George Eugene Plakosh

On May 4, 2021, George Eugene Plakosh passed away. He was the beloved husband of Catherine Louise Plakosh (nee Hyde); devoted father of Michael A. Plakosh and his wife Gianene, Eileen S. Thomas, Daniel E. Plakosh and his wife Jennifer, and Carolyn A. Orendorff and her husband Matt; loving grandfather of Taylor Thomas, Elena Plakosh, Ella Plakosh, and Jackson Orendorff; dear brother of Patricia Bertell, Jon Plakosh, and Edward Plakosh. Also survived by many loving extended family and friends.

George was born and attended elementary school in New York City. When his family moved to Farmingdale, New York, on Long Island, he attended Plainedge High School and played football, basketball and baseball, which was his favorite.

He attended the University of Dayton in Ohio, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. While at UD, he also met his future wife, Cathy, and they married in 1968.

George had joined UD’s Reserve Officer’s Training Program in the early years of the Viet Nam conflict. After graduation, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers. During that summer of 1969, the U.S. Army offered new officers the opportunity to choose a temporary assignment (for up to 2 years) anywhere in the world, in exchange for indefinitely extending one’s military obligation. Cathy and George decided to accept this offer and had 2 terrific years in Germany, traveling to England, Scotland, Italy, Austria and France as time allowed. Michael was born in a U.S. Army Hospital in Germany, and the family was fortunate to have housing quarters in Ludwigsburg near a small U.S. Army base.

George's first assignment in Germany was the 38th Engineer Company (Panel Bridge). Next he was made commander of the 503rd Combat Engineer Company (Light Equipment). Both units were part of the 563rd Engineer Battalion under the 7th Engineer Brigade/7th Army/Europe. After 2 years of command and award of the Army Commendation Medal, he was promoted to Captain and transferred to General Staff for the remainder of his tour of duty in Germany.

During Autumn of 1972, the war was winding down, and the Army offered a Reduction in Forces, which would discharge from Active Duty those who accepted, and maintain them in the ready reserves until 1975. If George stayed in, his next tour of duty would have been Korea; he accepted the RIF agreement.

The small family settled in the Baltimore area, and Eileen, Daniel and Carolyn were born here.

George worked as Project Engineer and Project Manager for notable Baltimore companies: Consolidated Engineering, Baltimore Contractors, and Leaply Engineering, among them. His favorite stories involved problem solving at a 14 story hospital, an airport runway, a seminary renovation, and a 6 lane expressway in D.C.

Those who knew him best were not surprised when he chose to create a business using his engineering training and experience. Designed to help other businesses by solving their large and small problems, he started his business, FaciliCare LLC, in 2000. George enjoyed the people he worked with and the variety of work.

He was extremely proud of each of his children, loved spending time with them and his grandchildren, though his family realized years ago that 70 hour work weeks were his “normal.” Retirement was never on his radar, but he could arrange his schedule to prioritize family get-togethers. A large holiday dinner or a quick visit often concluded with Pop-Pop tossing the first snowball, or pinecones, in the driveway.

Relatives and friends are invited to gather at the Schimunek Funeral Home, 9705 Belair RD, Nottingham, MD 21236, on Sunday, May 23, 2021, from 6-8 PM. A Mass of Christian Funeral will be held on Monday, May 24, 2021, at 11AM, at St. Ursula Catholic Church (Parkville, MD). A live stream of the mass can be viewed at www.stursulaparish.org. Interment services will follow at Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery (Owings Mills, MD). In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in George’s name to Associated Catholic Charities, 320 Cathedral St., Baltimore, MD 21201.