George J. Vargo Jr. PhD

George J. Vargo, Jr., PhD, age 55, of Avondale, PA, died Sunday November 20, 2011 at his home. He was the husband of Susan E. Renner Vargo.

Born in Pittsburgh, PA, he was the son of the late George J. and the late Lois (Samer) Vargo Sr.

George was a Certified Health Physicist for the Dept. Of Environmental Protection, State Of PA.
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 B.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 of Science degree in Health Physics from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in applied physics from Columbia Pacific University. George joined MJW corporation in 2002 and the PA 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, PA; one brother, Charles Vargo of Pittsburgh, PA and one sister, Claire Vargo of Pittsburgh, PA.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 10AM on Thursday, December 1, 2011, at St. Gabriel Of The Sorrowful Mother Church, 8910 Gap Newport Pike (Route 41), Avondale, PA

Arrangements by the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home, Kennett Square, PA (Phone: 610-444-4116)