George S. Lenos

George Lenos died on September 23rd, 2021 at Bethany Nursing Home at 84. George was born in 1936 in the village of Mesopotamia in Greece. He emigrated to the United States alone at the age of 20, learned English, and worked his way from a restaurant linen delivery boy to Certified Executive Chef. George was a decades-long fixture in the Northeast Ohio restaurant scene, in which he served as a mentor, model, and occasional terror to many younger kitchen staff and dozens of future chefs. In his years at the Carnaby Street Inn and later the Fairlawn Country Club, he established his reputation as a devoted and creative chef with a passion for both customer service and kitchen community leadership and support. In his alleged "retirement," George never stopped cooking for those he loved and those he wished to help, particularly the residents, families, and staff of Bethany Nursing Home. He was also an enthusiastic gardener known for his perhaps unreasonably large watermelons.

George is survived by wife of 38 years, Bonnie, and children Desiree Darby, Steven, Melissa, Nicholas (Alyssa), and Anthony Lenos; as well as grandchildren Sarah Smith, Jakob and Simon Lenos, and great-grandchildren Waylon Smith, Emily Chaplin, and Raegann Farrell. He was preceded in death, earlier this year, by grandson Jack Chaplin. George will be missed, and then some. The Trisagion service will be held at the Rossi Family Funeral Home on September 29th at 5 p.m.; calling hours to follow until 8 p.m. A funeral service, with procession and Liturgy of the Word, will be at Christ the Servant Parish on September 30th at 11a.m.; graveside service and reception will immediately follow. The family requests all attendees follow current CDC protocols regarding COVID-19. Memorial contributions, in George’s name, may be made to the Bethany Nursing Home Nurse Education Scholarship Fund or to the American Culinary Federation Scholarship Fund (scholarships@acfchefs.net).

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