George L. Bakris, MD
June 15, 1952 - June 15, 2024
Dr. George Bakris- beloved husband, father, grandfather, and physician- fell asleep in the Resurrected Lord on June 15, 2024 at the age of 72. He is survived by his loving wife and best friend of over 40 years (Demetria), children (Athena (Matt) and Louis (Despina)), and grandchildren. George leaves behind a legacy that extends beyond his family and local community, and spans the globe.
Born in Greece, George arrived in the U.S.A. at six weeks old and grew up in South Bend, IN. He was raised in a strong Greek-Orthodox household which emphasized the value of faith, hard work, and education. Growing up, he was an active member of St. Andrew Greek Orthodox church and enjoyed singing in the church choir and participating as an altar boy. As a teen, he was a part of the Sons of Pericles organization, attended Culver Summer Camp and Howe Military Academy before heading to Indiana University. It was during these times that his passion for helping others grew, eventually leading to his path to the study of medicine.
To know George was to love George. A life coach, mentor, confidant, and best friend to many, his work ethic was unmatched. George's approachability and genuine interest made him easy to talk to regardless of the topic. He lived every moment with curiosity, fun spirit, and zeal for life. This is how he approached any situation.
Above all else, George was a family man. Work-life balance was effortless. Whether it was speaking on a global stage or attending ballet recitals and soccer games for his children; he was always able to manage both flawlessly and give equal devotion.
George had a great love of comedy, music, travel, global cuisine, wine & cooking. Music was a cornerstone of George's youth that continued throughout his life. He loved playing his guitar, and fondly told stories of his teen band years.
Along with his hobbies, George's passion to help others is what drove him to pursue a career in medicine. He attended Rosalind Franklin School of Medicine followed by training and fellowships at Mayo Clinic, Harvard, and University of Chicago among other notable institutions. He served as the Vice Chairman of the Department of Preventive Medicine for over a decade at Rush University Medical Center and for the last 18 years as Director of the Comprehensive Hypertension Center at the University of Chicago.
George was the recipient of numerous awards including several lifetime-achievement awards and the American Diabetes Association's Father of the Year award. He was a member of countless organizations, oftentimes in leadership roles. These included: National Institute of Health (NIH), Federal Drug Administration (FDA), American Society of Hypertension, American Heart Association, National Kidney Foundation, Hellenic Medical Association, and many more. He was also awarded Honorary Doctorate degrees from the University of Athens (Greece) and University of Thessaloniki (Greece).
George influenced many with his love of teaching, which always came from a place of shared learning. One of his proudest accomplishments outside of his own family, was the network that he built through many fellows who trained under him, colleagues, patients, and many other friends.
To all who knew him, George will be remembered for his kindness, generosity, passion for education, and willingness to help whenever possible.
Dr. Bakris was a Board Review Course & Update faculty member and spoke at ASN Kidney Week for many years. Throughout his involvement with ASN, Dr. Bakris made numerous contributions to the advancement of kidney care. He will be missed.
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