Login | April 28, 2025
Longtime criminal defense attorney passes away
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: May 14, 2015
He was instrumental in starting public defender offices in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, but those who knew attorney George E. Kalafut say the thing they remember the most was his unwavering devotion to his clients.
“I met George in 1975 when I was a bailiff in the Mahoning County Common Pleas Court,” said Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas Judge R. Scott Krichbaum. “At the time, George was already doing criminal defense work.
“I was younger than him so we were never colleagues but after I became a criminal defense lawyer, we would share war stories and run cases by one another. I learned a lot from George. He was a man who really believed in the Bill of Rights and civil liberties. He carried a heavy caseload but he did an excellent job representing his clients and they really admired him.”
Born in Campbell on April 21, 1935 to parents Joseph and Helen (Wukovich) Kalafut, the longtime criminal defense attorney passed away on April 16, 2015 with his family by his side. He was 79.
Kalafut was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School and received his bachelor’s degree from Youngstown College. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956 where he held the rank of specialist third class.
“George and I went to the same college and we worked together at Struthers Beer Center,” said retired Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Administrator T. Gordon Welsh. “Our job was to carry beer to customers’ cars.
“He had a good sense of humor and was a very hard worker. After we left our jobs I kind of lost touch with George.”
While attending The University of Akron School of Law, Kalafut worked as the clerk of courts in Struthers. As an attorney, Judge Krichbaum said Kalafut joined forces with Ohio Public Defender Randy Dana to start a satellite office in Mahoning County.
“It was a hybrid form of a public defender’s office,” recalled Judge Krichbaum. “It never really took off. Our bar always believed in the individual assignment system where an attorney was appointed to represent an individual as opposed to having the public defender’s office represent everyone.
“Eventually the office kind of withered away and George moved to Trumbull County to start an office there, where he had better luck.”
While Judge Krichbaum said Kalafut never appeared before him in court, he said Kalafut was active in The Mahoning County Bar Association and took part in the talent show.
“It was a take off on the old Gong Show,” he said. “We had members of the bar perform. George and his brother Judge Robert Kalafut participated and played their own ethnic music. They were very good. I think they won.”
Kalafut was known for playing trumpet along with his brother, who played the accordion.
Judge Krichbaum said Kalafut’s daughter Traci also worked for the Community Corrections Association for one year and the two developed a friendship. “I think the last time I saw George was a few years ago, probably at a bar function.”
Mahoning County Juvenile Court Chief Magistrate Richard N. White said he met Kalafut in the ‘80s. “I was in private practice in Youngstown at the time and he was in the now defunct public defender’s office in Mahoning County.
“I would see him at pretrial hearings,” said Chief Magistrate White. “I thought he did a very good job advocating for his clients. He treated them all with respect and helped them to the best of his ability. I found him to be a very friendly and nice person.”
When Kalafut retired from the Trumbull County Public Defender’s Office, he started a private practice.
Some of his favorite activities over the years included playing golf and traveling to Lake Erie with his friends. He also enjoyed sports and watching his children and grandchildren’s basketball games. Kalafut was a champion jitterbugger, winning every contest he entered except one, where he got second place.
Funeral services were held April 24 at the Kirila Funeral Home in Struthers.
Kalafut is survived by his wife, Sandra (Buccilli) Kalafut; his children, George (Gloria) Kalafut of Poland, Kristopher Kalafut, Traci (Eric Huffman) Kalafut and Georgia McKee, all of Boardman; a sister, JoAnn Butch of California; grandchildren Sabrina Donnadio, Danielle Moore, George Kalafut, Krystle Kalafut, Rachel Kalafut, Leanna McKee and Allison McKee along with great-grandchildren Kaylin Donnadio, Haley Donnadio and Michele Moore.
His parents, first wife, Marie (Lancien) Kalafut; two daughters, Michele Hartzell and Suzanne Holby; a grandson, John Holby; and his brother, Judge Robert Kalafut all preceded him in death.