08/05/2026
Our prayers and sympathy are extended to the family and friends of Dr. George J. Gugino. Dr Gugino passed recently and his funeral was held today, August 5. He was a long term member of Resurrection prior to his active participation with First Presbyterian Church. The following is his obituary.
George John Gugino, M.D., age 90, of Saginaw, passed away peacefully at home with “his lady” and beloved “trophy wife” by his side, on Monday, July 27, 2026.
Dr. George Gugino was born in St. Mary’s hospital on May 23, 1936. The second child and first son of Dr. Frank Gugino and Dorothy Arnot Scott Gugino. His father practiced medicine in Reese in a small office on Main St. from 1934 to World War II. The family traveled with Lt. Frank during his Navy career as a flight surgeon until his deployment to the Pacific Theater in 1944. After the war the practice was moved to 1941 Gates Street in Reese, where it remains to this day, with an addition added in 1965.
George attended Reese High School until 1951 then transferred to Saginaw High School as a tuition student, graduating in 1953. His pre-medical education started at Michigan State College (now MSU) where he primarily developed social skills. He transferred to Albion College in 1955, receiving his BA degree in 1957. He entered medical school at the University of Western Ontario, receiving his MD degree in 1961.
Internship was done at Detroit Memorial Hospital followed by an Internal Medicine residency until his father’s death in October 1963. He resigned from the residency and assumed his father’s practice in November 1963. His practice has continued to the present in Reese with the exception of a two year tour of active duty, 1965-1967, with the United States Navy. He was attached to the second division Marines out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He left the service having obtained the rank of Lt. Commander.
He became board certified in Family Practice in 1976 and has served many years as an assistant medical professor in the Dept. of Family Practice of MSU College of Family Medicine.
He has three wonderful children: Leslie (Jerry) Karr, David (Michele) Gugino and Anthony (Laura) Gugino; step-children: Bethany (Mike) Kross, Darlene Miller and Diane (John) Oates; three grandchildren: Grant Gugino, Alex Gugino and Levi Gugino; including several step grand-children and step great grand-children; brother, Scott (Sharon) Gugino; several nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and dear friends.
Dr. Gugino was preceded in death by his parents; and his sister, Frances Donnely.
Dr. Gugino has been active in a number of community endeavors. He served on the Reese school board and sadly remembers the upheaval of the Reese 44 teacher’s strike. He has served as board member and president of the Saginaw Art Museum and Saginaw County Medical Society. He has served as president of the Saginaw Academy of Family Practice and has been active on many hospital committees at St. Mary’s and Covenant Hospitals. He is a past president of St. Mary’s medical staff and currently serves on that hospital’s advisory board. Dr. Gugino was a charter member and chairman of the East Michigan Physician Organization, which is now a part of the St. Mary’s Physician Hospital Organization, now MyMichigan.
Dr. Gugino’s hobbies over the years have included photography, cooking, gardening and classic auto restoration and preservation. He is currently secretary of the Motor Region Rolls Royce Owners Club and can frequently be spotted driving his 1959 Silver Cloud I, Aphrodite, on road trips. He is a long time member of the Saginaw Club. He and his then fiancée, Janie Barham, enjoyed many cultural activities of the Saginaw Bay area including the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra, Saginaw Valley Concert Series, Broadway Series, Saginaw Art Museum, Saginaw Choral Society, Pit and Balcony and others. Dr. Gugino and Janie were married on November 22, 2003.
To receive such an honor as the Spirit of St. Vincent Award is truly humbling as it places one in the category with such luminaries as Dr. Malcolm Field, Dr. William Knapp, Dr. Don Cady, Drs. Luigi and Carlotta Maresca and Dr. Leroy Barry. I don’t feel that anyone could consider themselves deserving of such company. I just hope that I can continue to strive towards the values set by St. Vincent’s life as I continue my practice. Dr. Gugino also received Covenant Physician of the year award in 2017.
A Memorial visitation will take place on Tuesday, August 4, 2026 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Deisler Funeral Home, 2233 Hemmeter Rd., Saginaw, MI 48603. Visitation will continue on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at First Presbyterian Church, 121 S. Harrison St., Saginaw, MI 48602 from 3:00 p.m. until the time of the Memorial Service beginning at 4:00 p.m. Rev. Ted McCulloch will officiate.
Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a donation to First Presbyterian Church, 121 S. Harrison Street, Saginaw, MI 48602 or the Saginaw Art Museum, 1126 North Michigan Avenue, Saginaw, MI 48602.
For information, please contact Deisler Funeral Home, 989-799-1151. To express your condolences online, please visit www.deislerfuneralhome.com.
