George A. Koutras

George Anest Koutras, a retired Federal Administrative Law Judge, passed away in the company of his family in Frederick, Maryland on February 3, 2023 at the age of 91.  He is survived by his wife of 64 years Bessie Antonopoulos Koutras and his children Theodore Koutras, Andrea Lay (Bart) and James Koutras (Lynn) and by his grandchildren Zoe, Alexander, Zachary, Bianca, George Reid and Ryan James, his brothers Lambros Koutras (Mary) and Demetre Koutras (Mary) and his sister-in-law Toula Passas.  George is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and relatives in Athens and Volos, Greece.
George was born in Washington, DC on January 15, 1932.  His parents Anastasios and Demetra Koutras immigrated to the United States from Greece in 1921, became naturalized American citizens and lived in Washington, DC, where his father operated two restaurants.  George attended public schools and graduated from Eastern High School in 1950.  He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in History from George Washington University in 1954, where he was a member of the Air Force ROTC and among eight of the first graduates commissioned from that program as Second Lieutenants in the U.S. Air Force.
George married Bessie Antonopoulos on September 7, 1958 at Saint Sophia Cathedral in Washington, DC.
Upon completion of three years active Air Force duty as a Captain, George attended George Washington University Law School and earned a J.D. degree in 1960.  He was subsequently admitted to practice law before the Federal Courts in Washington, DC and the United States Supreme Court.
George began his federal service career in 1961 as an investigator with the U.S. Civil Service Commission (OPM), where he served as an Assistant General Counsel responsible for enforcement of the Hatch Act.  In 1973, he accepted an appointment as an Administrative Law Judge with the U.S. Department of the Interior deciding cases related to the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act.
George transferred to the newly created Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission in 1978 and continued to adjudicate mine safety and health cases until he retired in January 1998 after 41 years of federal service, only to return on September 10, 2010 to adjudicate a backlog of cases until his appointment expired in May of 2014.
George was a member of the DC, Federal and American Bar Associations, the Administrative Law Judges Conference, AHEPA and the American Legion.  He served as Commander of the Adelphia Post 38 where he was Santa Claus for the children of post members and his grandchildren.  George was a lifelong member of Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church of Washington, DC, where he served on the parish council for 32 years, including positions as secretary and two terms as president.  He was also a member of Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church of Frederick, Maryland.
After retiring, George and Bess enjoyed traveling to Europe, Russia, Turkey, Israel and especially Greece and the Greek Islands.  He very much enjoyed the river cruises in Europe and Russia and had many stories to tell of his travels.  George loved to get together with his childhood friends for monthly coffee at Cabin John Mall to relive the old days and, of course, discuss politics.  George loved his family, his church and his country.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, February 10 at 12:30 pm at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 721 Norwood Road, Silver Spring, MD 20905, where the family will receive friends from 10:30 am until service time.  Burial will be in Parklawn Memorial Park, Rockville.
In lieu of flowers, it is requested contributions be made to either the Saints Constantine and Helen or Saints Peter and Paul parishes.