At the age of 89, George Erotokritos Galiachatos, a prominent member of the local business community, passed away. He was the longtime proprietor of The Lincoln Charcoal Inn in Wheaton, Maryland, which was one of the first eateries in the state to use indoor charcoal cooking and a longtime favorite in the community.
George, who was born in Kefalonia, Greece, on April 29, 1936, is a living example of perseverance and pursuing the American dream. He was raised in a time of great adversity, having seen the destruction caused by war and a huge earthquake in 1953. With only a fourth-grade education and a strong will to succeed, he arrived in the United States in 1961 at the age of 25 after serving with honor in the Greek Army.
Grit, vision, and an unwavering work ethic allowed George to start from scratch and create a life of extraordinary accomplishment. Before starting The Lincoln Charcoal Inn, he worked as a dishwasher in a restaurant in Washington, D.C. Sixty years later, George was still boasting about his renowned sizzling London broil, and the restaurant remained a local favorite for its creative use of indoor charcoal.
Following his retirement from the food industry, he obtained his real estate license and established a successful real estate company. His keen intuition and unwavering perseverance left a significant and enduring legacy for his family, and he frequently remarked that this accomplishment was like attending college.
George’s wife, Piye Galiachatos, with whom he had a 60-year lifelong marriage, passed away before him. They were childhood pals in their small Kefalonian hamlet, where their love story started. Their greatest pride and joy came from their four children: Georgia (Patrick) Grover, Ellen (Russ) Miles, Eva (Edward) Warburton, and Eric (Nicole) Galiachatos. Piye was buried in Kefalonia at the cemetery that is adjacent to the small village church where they were married after she passed away in July 2022.
Known for their warmth and charity, George and Piye assisted several friends and family members during their lifetime. They offered people their first employment or loans to purchase a home or vehicle, sponsored family members to immigrate to the United States, and gave sage advice.
George and Piye returned to their favorite island, Kefalonia, in the early 2000s to construct their ideal home in Pyrgi, where they were born. They have spent the last 25 summers there, surrounded by friends, family, and the natural beauty of the island.
George’s unwavering work ethic, commercial savvy, enduring legacy, and intense love for his wife will all live on in his memory. His ashes will be interred with Piye in Kefalonia after a Greek Orthodox funeral ritual, bringing them back together where their love story started. On Wednesday, August 20, 2025, a funeral ceremony will be performed at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, located at 721 Norwood Road, Silver Spring, Maryland 20905. Visitors will be welcomed by the family at 9 a.m., and a liturgy will be held at 10 a.m. The burial will take place in a private setting. Memorial donations to the Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church may be made in place of flowers.
