Passed away on November 2, 2015 in Las Vegas, NV. He was born the youngest of 4 children on February 27, 1934 in Hibbing, Minnesota to his immigrant parents James and Katherine Kotonias. He grew up in a modest household with Greek parents who instilled a strong work ethic, education, and valued the Greek community of friends and family. He attended Hibbing schools and graduated from Hibbing High School in 1952. He attended Hibbing Community College and then graduated from Michigan Technological University in 1956. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering. He was elected to the National Engineering Fraternity, Tau Beta Pi, Blue Key, and Theta Tau. He was also a graduate of the program for executives at Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh. On November 4, 1961, he married. George loved his wife dearly, as his health declined she took exceptionally good care of him. George had a great love of life, conversation, food, and friends. He valued education highly and was very modest; family and friends meant everything to him. He began his career in 1956 at the Hanna Research Laboratory in Hibbing, MN. In 1960, he was transferred to Hanna's Groveland Mine in Michigan. In 1962, he was named Pellet Plant Superintendent. In 1971, he was promoted to General Manager of Groveland Operations. In 1977, he was transferred to the Butler Taconite Mine in Minnesota where he served as general superintendent, until he was promoted to the Manager of the Operation three years later. He transferred to National Steel Pellet Company in 1983, and he retired on September 1, 1994 He was active in the A.I.M.E. subsections, and he became the Chairman of the Upper Peninsula Section. He was also the Chairman of the MN Mining Association from 1992 to 1993. He was predeceased by his parents, James and Katherine, as well as his brothers, Andrew and Sam and his sister Bess Vallarino .