George J. Vargo Jr., 55, of Avondale, died Sunday, Nov. 20, at
his home. He was the husband of Susan E. Renner Vargo.
Born in Pittsburgh, he was the son of the late George J. and
the late Lois (Samer) Vargo Sr.
George was a certified health physicist for the state Dept.
of Environmental Protection.
George developed an interest in health physics during his high
school days while working on a science fair project. After graduating from
Duquesne with a bachelor’s degree in radiological health, George joined the
staff of Radiation Service Organization in Laurel, Maryland, in 1978 as the radiation
safety officer. In 1979, he joined the staff at Fitzpatrick Power plant
in New York. He moved on to the Pacific Northwest National Laboratories
in 1991. Along the way, George completed a master’s of science degree in health
physics from Georgia Institute of Technology and a doctorate in applied physics
from Columbia Pacific University. George joined MJW Corp. in 2002 and the
Dept. of Environmental Protection in 2009.
He was the recipient of the William A. McAdams Outstanding
Service Award, has been selected as an official delegate to the IRPA Congresses
in Montreal, Vienna, and Hiroshima, was awarded the title of Fellow of the
Society for Radiological Protection in 1998, Fellow of the Institute of Physics
in 2000, and Fellow of the Health Physics Society in 2008. George was
certified by the American Board of Health Physics in comprehensive practice in
1984 and in the power reactor specialty in 1986. George developed a
passive directional radiation probe using an array of TLDs. In 1992, he was
granted a United States patent for this invention.
He was formerly an associate editor and software editor for
the Health Physics Journal and has written numerous book reviews. George
managed the Chernobyl Dose Reduction Project, whose goal was to transfer and
upgrade health physics technology at the Chernobyl Shelter and edited a book on
the Chernobyl accident.
Somehow, in addition to this impressive list of professional
activities, George found time to engage in such hobbies as photography, amateur
radio (CCAR), and Skywarn.
Survivors include in addition to his wife Susan, one step
daughter, Catherine “Katy” O’Toole of Avondale; one brother, Charles Vargo of
Pittsburgh, and one sister, Claire Vargo of Pittsburgh.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1,
, at St. Gabriel Of The Sorrowful Mother Church, 8910 Gap Newport Pike (Route
41), Avondale.
Arrangements by the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home, Kennett
Square, PA (Phone: 610-444-4116)
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading...
Comments