George Demetrios Yannakakis

1931 - 2026

George Yannakakis, 94, of Towson, Maryland, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on January 6, 2026. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and dedicated physician and runner. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends, gardening, and talking about politics and world affairs.

George was born on October 23, 1931 to Demetrios Yannakakis and Panayota Perivoliotis in the mountain village of Loganikos, Greece. The second oldest of ten children, he and his family lived through many hardships in their early lives, including the Nazi occupation of Greece during World War II and the Greek Civil War. The family survived and thrived, and despite their separation through migration across the globe, they continued to gather in Greece and enjoy time together, swimming in the Messinian Bay, playing backgammon, and eating meals at the family home and in seaside tavernas.

George was educated in Greece, earning his high school degree in Kalamata and his medical degree at the University of Athens. He specialized in Neurology, which during the 1960's was a rapidly transforming and growing field of medicine. Eager to learn about the latest developments, he conducted postdoctoral studies in London, Pittsburgh, and Montreal. He and his wife Zoena, also a physician, met at McGill University in 1965, and were married in Greece in December 1966. They lived in Athens until 1967 when they moved to Miami, with only two suitcases in tow. Two years later, in 1969, they moved to the Baltimore area, where they settled and raised their family. George enjoyed a long career in medicine with affiliations at Good Samaritan Hospital, GBMC, Johns Hopkins, and the Veterans Administration. He also had a private practice in Towson. A lifelong learner, he became board certified in neurophysiology while practicing in Maryland.

Alongside his passion for medicine, George was an avid runner. Prompted by a Father's Day gift of an Adidas track suit and running shoes in his mid-forties, he started by walking around the block to improve his fitness. He expanded his route periodically and before long was competing in local and regional races. The Baltimore Road Runners Club provided him with a like-minded and motivated community of athletes. Accompanied by his biggest fan and loving partner Zoena, he spent most weekends for many decades competing in area races. His running accomplishments included marathons, such as New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Athens, Marine Corp, and NCR Trail. He loved to compete, and holds many age group records for distance running. He ran his last race - the Cherry Blossom 10-miler, which he had run thirty times consecutively – in April of 2024 at the age of 92. He was inducted into the Baltimore Road Runners Club Hall of Fame in 2019.

George is survived by his wife Zoena, three daughters, Yanna (Aiden), Grace (David), and Daphne (Don), seven grandchildren, Zoena (Kwame), Olivia, Sophia, Marianna, Diego, Del, and Maeve, his brother Vasilis (Christina) and sisters Koula and Terry.

A memorial service will be held at Ruck Funeral Home in Towson on Saturday, February 21 from 1:00-4:00. The family will receive visitors from 1:00-3:00, with remembrances and celebration of life starting at 3:00. Donations in George's memory can be made to the Baltimore Road Runners Club and/or The Towson Family Center YMCA