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George Speace Obituary
SHAVERTOWN — George F. Speace, MD, F.A.C.S., of Shavertown, passed away unexpectedly Friday, July 24, 2020, at his home.
Born in Uniontown, he was the son of the late George and Kathleen (Liston) Speace.
After graduating from Penn State University and Jefferson Medical College, he completed an internship and surgical residency at Jefferson and a plastic surgery fellowship at Long Island Plastic Surgery Center and Stonybrook University Medical Center in East Meadow, N.Y.
Dr. Speace was a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, was certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery and was a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. In 1979, he joined Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, Ltd., in Wilkes-Barre.
Along with other medical professionals, he provided care at the cleft palate clinic in Wilkes-Barre. He served as board chairman of the Kirby Health Center in Wilkes-Barre, past president of the medical staff of Nesbitt Hospital, and past president of the Philharmonic Orchestra of NEPA.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Cathy; children: Gillian (Andreas), of Durham, N.C.; Graydon, of San Francisco, Calif.; Garrett (Lindsay), of Raleigh, N.C.; Graham (Angela), of Pittston; and Gabrielle, of Durham, N.C.; grandchildren: Ptolemaios Orphanides, Marina Speace, and Maeve Speace; and siblings: Charles Speace, Susan Speace Hennessey and Thomas Speace.
Private funeral services will be held at the convenience of family.
Memorial contributions may be made to Thomas Jefferson University, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Philadelphia, Prince of Peace Episcopal Church, Dallas, or a charitable donation of choice.
Arrangements by Harold C. Snowdon Funeral Home Inc., Shavertown.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for George Speace
Dr. Dave
July 22, 2025
A great guy and a compassionate surgeon.
Rest in Peace
David Cooper
July 22, 2023
We all miss George. His wit and his surgical excellence.
Rest in peace my friend.
Dr David Cooper
July 22, 2021
Patients and doctors alike miss George.He was one of a kind.
Ann Marie Lafoca
August 13, 2020
Dr. Speace was the best of the best. He always was caring, kind and considerate. I will miss him so much. My sympathies go out to his family and his wonderful staff.
Paul Jakubowski
August 13, 2020
God Bless Dr. Speace
Rest in piece. You left us too soon my Friend.
Paul Jakubowski
Elena Timko
August 12, 2020
Mrs. Speace, family and staff,
I am a patient of Dr. Speace for many years. He was a unique, intelligent, caring and all around terrific gentlemen. He did a procedure for me mid-June and checked on me repeatedly to make sure I was alright. He was funny but genuine and I felt like he was my friend from the day I walked into his office. He was sincere and caring. I am deeply sorry for your loss. May you find peace and comfort in the memory of your love and life with such a great man.
Elena Timko
Dr. David Cooper
August 11, 2020
It bothers me greatly that George had the temerity to do this to me. Not only did I know George since our fraternity days at Nu Sigma Nu at Jefferson, but he was a valued colleague who I always felt actually knew what he was doing. The reason I admired George was that I always felt he really loved what he was doing in spite of the fact that it is getting more and more difficult to be a self-employed Surgical Specialist these days.
And then he was in such good shape that he was the last person that I felt would pass so suddenly. And although he was an excellent surgeon, he was a good all-around person with tremendous knowledge about things not medical so he was a pleasure to converse with even though it would hold him up from seeing the other patients so his staff would hate me for talking to him.
So rest in peace buddy. I hope the golf courses up there are lush and green and you get a chance to take advantage of all of them.
Paul
August 10, 2020
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
You were such a great person to me and my family
LISA MORROW
August 10, 2020
A wonderful friend I've known for decades . My deepest sympathy to Kathy and all of George's children. I will miss him dearly. Was lucky to have seen him a week prior. Rest in peace my friend. ❤
Maureen Kasenchak
August 9, 2020
What a loss. A kind good human.
Terri Ozz
August 9, 2020
Was a wonderful Dr. I'm in shock finding out about this sad news my prayers go out to the family.
Bettye Lou Bovolick
August 5, 2020
In loving memory of a wonderful person. He was a wonderful doctor and person!
Linda McDaniels
August 3, 2020
So very sorry he was a good man and an excellent dr he will be missed by so many God Bless
Karla himlin
August 3, 2020
My deepest condolences to all. Thankyou Dr Speece
Sharon Stogoski
August 3, 2020
To his family,
My sincere condolences on you loss. He was my Mother's doctor for years. He treated her with kindness and compassion always. May Dr. Speace rest gently in the arms of his Lord.
Chuck Speace
August 2, 2020
George Speace was a kind, considerate and dedicated medical and family person. We grew up together and were inseparable when we were young. We played golf with our father, played tennis at the local playground and swam at a pool in the mountains. We shared a bedroom until he went away to college and we became more independent of each other until he graduated from college and moved to Villanova when I was going to college.
When he got into medical school, I was a very happy and proud brother and I had just entered the Navy. I remember visiting him in Philadelphia when he was in surgical residency and he said “lets go down to Wilmington Delaware, I have to fix someone.” That was the first of many times I would visit him in later life when he said the same thing to me. There was never a time when I visited him that he didn’t get called out to “go fix someone.” And no matter what time of day or night he got the call, sometimes more than once in a night, he would go. And no matter who the person was, he fixed them and didn’t always get paid. I remember meeting a salesperson in a store outside of Philadelphia who recognized my name and told me my brother had saved her hand.
He was not the most understanding person in our family growing up, but he made up for it in his family and in his profession. Always available to his family no matter what the need was. Always kept in touch with friends, even those from long ago. A high school friend living in Florida told me he had spoken to George the week he had died. Another told me he had lunch the
same week. He was texting with a son minutes before he passed.
I will miss him greatly knowing that he is no longer a phone call or an email away. Requiesce in pace, Brother, until we meet again.
carol Blizzard
August 2, 2020
Dear Speace Family and Staff
My deepest sympathy,Dr Speace was a very pleasant and great man. May he rest in peace. God Bless
Joseph Goas
August 1, 2020
In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always. Thank You.
July 31, 2020
Dr Speace was a gentleman of the highest quality. My family and I share his family's sorrow. He was one of my best customers as I sure was his. "Eternal rest grant unto him Oh Lord and May your perpetual light shine on him forever".
I will miss you my friend. You touched our lives and made the world a better place.
Joseph, Jerri, Leah, Matt, and Joey.
Daniel J. Dudrick, M.D.
July 31, 2020
George was a colleague, mentor and friend. I had the good fortune to experience his care after an accident and am forever grateful. His kindness, compassion and medical care were second to none. He was truly a class act! My sincere condolences to his family. Eternal rest grant to him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he Rest In Peace.
July 31, 2020
My deepest condolences to Dr Spence's family. He was an amazing surgeon. He got me through my recovery from 3rd degree burns, the most difficult time of my life when I was 17 years old, and I will never forget him. Karen Jeremy
Michael Columbus
July 31, 2020
He was my inspiration to pursue a career in Plastic Surgery. My condolences to the family.
Michael Columbus
Debby Harbay
July 30, 2020
Cathy and Family,
So very sorry for your loss of an incredible surgeon and human being. George was always concerned with everyone, how you were doing, etc. I worked with him years ago at General, and I was also his patient, and he never failed over the years when I ran into him to sincerely care about how you were doing. This is a great loss for our community, but he left you and your children an excellent legacy of hard work and compassion for every individual he touched. May he Rest In Peace!
Janine Verdetto
July 30, 2020
I just met Dr Speace last week. I am so saddened by his loss. He made me feel immediately comfortable. He was cool, passionate about what he did, compassionate, and definitely took pride in his work. If I feel this way after only one meeting, I am sure he made quite an impact on many others. My deepest condolences and prayers to his wife, children, grandchildren, family, staff and many others. Rest In Peace Dr Speace.
Janine Verdetto
July 30, 2020
I just met Dr Speace last week. I am so saddened by his loss. He made me feel immediately comfortable. He was cool, passionate about what he did, compassionate, and definitely took pride in his work. If I feel this way after only one meeting, I am sure he made quite an impact on many others. My deepest condolences and prayers to his wife, children, grandchildren, family, staff and many others. Rest In Peace Dr Speace.
Janine Verdetto
July 30, 2020
I just met Dr Speace last week. I am so saddened by his loss. He made me feel immediately comfortable. He was cool, passionate about what he did, compassionate, and definitely took pride in his work. If I feel this way after only one meeting, I am sure he made quite an impact on many others. My deepest condolences and prayers to his wife, children, grandchildren, family, staff and many others. Rest In Peace Dr Speace.
Mike Bantell
July 30, 2020
Kind,friendly,always a pleasure to see him!One of the Best!Will Miss Him!
July 30, 2020
Dear Family and friends of Dr.Speace,It was always a pleasure to see him. He was friendly, attentive,and most skillful in his profession. He will be greatly missed. God bless him and his family.
Karen Thiede
July 29, 2020
Dear Speace Family & staff,
My sincerest condolences. Dr. Speace was a wonderful, kind, & skilled Dr. He was a pleasure to go to. May he R.I.P.
Edward Evans
July 29, 2020
My deepest sympathy to the Speace family. I was a patient of his and what an excellent and kind surgeon,truly a great loss to the community.
Sincerely,
Edward Evans
Adeline Smith
July 29, 2020
Dr Speach was a Pleasure to know and very pleasant Man , My condolences to his Family and his Devoted Staff, May he rest in peace
Fred Pierantoni III
July 29, 2020
My deepest sympathy.
Steve Skovira
July 29, 2020
So sad to hear this. Dr. Speace was very much a part of our lives and went out of his way to help everyone. He treated everyone with dignity and respect. Rest in Peace Dr. Speace
Tom McGrath
July 29, 2020
Cathy, please accept my deepest condolences on George's passing.
Prayers to you and your family.
Donna Gillis
July 29, 2020
I'm so sorry to learn about the passing of Dr. Speace. He was a kind, affable, and wonderful doctor. Sincere condolences to his family and staff.
Joanne Gentle
July 29, 2020
Sincere condolences to his family.
Dr. Speace was a great surgeon and a pleasure to work with. Rest In Peace.
Jerry bonner
July 29, 2020
To mrs speace and family so sorry to hear about My old friend Doctor speace he was a great person please except our condolences May he rest in peace jerry bonner family
Kathleen Pilconid
July 29, 2020
Cathy,I'm so sorry for your loss..my deepest sympathy to you and your family...I'm sure he'll be missed not only by his family but the numerous patients he has helped o Dr the years...
Timothy Haddle
July 29, 2020
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Erica Michaliga
July 29, 2020
I am so sorry to hear of Dr. Speace's passing. I send my condolences to his family. He was a part of my life for almost 30 years with his artistic abilities and creations...... He was so proud of his family - his children and grandchildren meant everything to him.. Rest easy and fly high Dr. Speace. You will be missed by many... you've touch so many lives in more ways than you could imagine..
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