George S. Richardson, M.D.

George S. Richardson, M.D.

Age 92, of Longwood at Oakmont, passed away on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. Son of the late Vernon Staley Richardson and Pearl Stevens Richardson, native of Smithfield, Virginia, husband of the late May Warren Richardson,

Father of G. Stevens Richardson, Jr (the late Rosanne Schultz), Carol Warren Richardson Drew (William Martin Drew) and John Garris Richardson (Madeline Sue Carr); Grandfather (known as “HamPa” by his grandchildren)  Evan George Richardson, Melanie Sue Richardson, John Garris Richardson, Jr., Lauren Nicole Drew, Kristen Elizabeth Drew, and Peter Warren Drew. 

Born in Smithfield, Virginia on January 15, 1930, the youngest of five children, he was preceded in death by his siblings and their spouses, Catherine Richardson Moore (Austin Moore), Vernon S. Richardson, Jr. (Cora Pulley), Grace Richardson Pulley (Robert Pulley), and Pearl Richardson Kinsey (Edward Kinsey). 

George was a graduate of Smithfield High School, attended Hampden-Sydney College, College of William and Mary, and the Medical College of Virginia (now Virginia Commonwealth University) where he received his B.S. and M.D. degrees and was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.  He interned at Norfolk General Hospital where he met May whom he married in 1957.  He served two years active duty in the U.S. Navy as a Medical Officer, returned to Norfolk General Hospital for four years of residency in general surgery, then came to Pittsburgh for a two-year fellowship in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, training at Presbyterian Hospital, Children’s Hospital, and the Veteran’s Hospital in Oakland.  After completing his training, George joined the staffs of Presbyterian Hospital, Children’s Hospital, Western Pennsylvania Hospital, and the Pittsburgh Hospital.  He later joined the staff of Allegheny General Hospital.  His major interest in his specialty consisted of reconstructive surgery, primarily children’s deformities (cleft lip, cleft palate, and other birth deformities) and hand reconstructive surgery for injury and congenital deformities.  In 1992, George concluded his surgical career and founded the Hand Rehabilitation Unit at Harmarville Rehabilitation Center where he served as Director until his retirement in August of 1990. 

George was certified by the American Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, a member of numerous medical societies and associations of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hand Surgery, and Cleft Lip and Palate.  He was a member of the Allegheny County Medical Society and a past president of the former Pittsburgh Surgical Society. 

George loved music and his gift for piano playing was shared throughout the years as a young boy playing for the Smithfield Methodist Men’s Bible Class to sing-alongs at Longwood Retirement Community.  He was a member of Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church where he had served as an elder.  He loved his family greatly.  The words most often used to describe George are kind and gentle.  George was a man of integrity who loved God.   

A memorial service will be held for both George and May Richardson at the Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church on Thursday, January 12th at 11:00AM. 

The family requests that remembrances be made to the Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, 384 Fox Chapel Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238 or Surgicorps International, 3392 Saxonburg Blvd., Glenshaw, PA 15116.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of George S. Richardson, M.D., please visit our floral store.