JOHN G. PAPANDREAS May 30, 1927 – February 28, 2019 Share this obituary Send Flowers Sign Guestbook| Send Private Condolences| Send Sympathy Card JOHN G. PAPANDREAS, Beloved husband of Mary (nee Facaros) ;father of George, Sophia Tjotjos (Chris), Sam (Joyce), Erini Redmond (Bill), Steve (Megan), grandfather of Lia, Andreas, Mary, Yiana Tjojos, and Mary, Anne, John Papandreas, and John, and William Redmond, and Steve, and Theo Papandreas; brother of the late Peggy Giourgas (George) deceased. Funeral Service will be held Monday, March 11, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 22909 Center Ridge Rd. , Rocky River, OH.
Interment Lakewood Park Cemetery. FRIENDS RECEIVED AT THE BERRY-McGREEVEY FUNERAL HOME, 26691 DETROIT RD. (ONE MILE WEST OF COLUMBIA RD.
) WESTLAKE, OH, FROM 3-7 P.M. SUNDAY WHERE A TRISAGION SERVICE WILL BE HELD AT 6 P.M. John G. Papandreas born May 30th, 1927 in Morgantown W. Va. passed away at the age of 91 at his home in Lakewood, Ohio with his 5 children and wife by his side. We have always thought about this day and wondered what we could possibly say to adequately convey the magnitude of our sorrow, gratitude, and acknowledgement for our father, a man who was always larger than life to us.
We will deeply miss him, all that he meant to us and all that he stood for. He was a man who could command a room or disarm a stranger; quietly whisper a profound truth or make you laugh aloud at a quick quip; defend you in one of the difficult moments of life or make you fill with joy at the many precious, fun moments in life. He was strong and demanded high standards, but also gentle and supportive.
He loved his work, heritage, church, boating and family passionately and believed deeply in the Lord and the power of every individual. As a result, he changed, improved or left an indelible mark on every life, situation or organization he touched. He grew up as the older of two children from parents who migrated to the USA from the island of Chios, Greece for a better life.
His mother passed away in her 40’s due to complications derived from rheumatoid fever. His father worked in the steel mills and restaurant business to provide for his family. John graduated high school, enlisted in the Navy and served in WWII.
Afterwards he became the first of family and relatives to attend college at Waynesburg University and earned a degree in business administration. Dad then attended and graduated law school at Case Western Reserve University during which time he met his wife Mary a brilliant, beautiful and educated teacher with a masters in English, whose parents were from the island of Ikaria. They married on April 26, 1953 and celebrated 65 years of marriage this year.
After law school, Dad and Mom lived in West Virginia where Dad finished his military service in the army judicial advocate corps during the Korean War. After his army service, Mom and Dad returned to Cleveland where they forged our family of 5 siblings and Dad became a partner in his prestigious law firm, specializing in personal injury, corporate, probate and immigration law. He was a member of the Cleveland and Ohio Bar Associations, the American Immigration Lawyer Association and served on the Grievance Committee of the Ohio State Bar Association resolving disputes between attorneys and clients.
He was also an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and received Outstanding Recognition for his role. His specialty in immigration law earned him a membership and presidency of the Executive Board of the Nationalities Service Center. In that capacity, he testified before a US Congressional committee on immigration legislation and was influential in redistributing and rewriting immigration quotas.
He served and led in every Greek organization that promoted and preserved his heritage including: Supreme President for the United Chios Societies; President of the Chios Chapter of Ayia Markella, Morgantown, the AHEPA Lakewood, Ohio chapter, the Hellenic University Club of Northeastern Ohio and the American Hellenic Community of Greater Cleveland, and; Legal Counsel to the Ikarian National and local chapters for over 25 years. He was recognized for his contributions by earning the Order of AHEPA and Chios Society Lifetime Achievement Awards. He was devoted to the church and especially his priests.
He served as legal counsel for decades in every Greek parish he belonged, including the Annunciation, St Constantine and Helen and St Demetrios. He also served on the Diocesan Council of Pittsburgh and the Archdiocesan Council He advised, helped and worked tirelessly to promote, protect and guide these Greek Orthodox churches and organizations to be strong foundations for our faith and culture in America. He was a fabulous yachtsman, lover of boating and consummate host on his boat, Zorba.
He spent every spare moment with his wife, family and friends enjoying his boat and the Great Lakes. He served as Commodore of the Put in Bay Yacht Club, was a founder of the Crews Nest Yacht Club, served as Treasurer of the Interlake Yachting Association and remained an active member of the Blue Gavel Society of Past Commodores. Above all, Dad passionately loved his family and his joy and devotion showed in everything he did with us, from school work, house work, church, family vacations, boating, sports, Greek dances and conventions to everyday conversations, guidance and deep life advice.
Being with Dad was always fun and special. His conviction to family values, education, hard work, and Greek family traditions were peppered throughout Sundays attending church, conversations at the required family dinner table, rides to and from our activities or evenings in the family room. He made sure we supported one another and continued to be together even as adults.
Most importantly, he set the example by how he lived his life and answered ultimately to God. We held Dad in such high regard it drove us to “make him proud” in our studies and careers, including: George – received his undergraduate degree in architecture and his graduate degree in commercial real estate law; Sophia – received her undergraduate degree in political science and psychology and her graduate degree in law from Dad’s alma mater; Sam – received his undergraduate degree in engineering and his graduate degree in dentistry and orthodontics; Erini – received her undergraduate degree in microbiology and her graduate degree in dentistry; Steve – received his undergraduate degree in nutrition and his graduate degree in chiropractics. Dad was in a class all his own, from his stature to his style.
We will miss his presence, love, leadership, humor, wisdom and wit, his keen mind that could deduce a situation accurately in moments, his conversation, curiosity and genuine interest in what we were doing with our lives, his knowledge and oratory skills in the English and Greek language, his extraordinary ability to MC a room of 100s or just our family, his dinner prayers, strong opinion, strong handshake, advice, guidance, genuine gentleness, thankfulness for his family and life, his elegant swing dancing, natural ease, his big hug and kiss every time you saw him, his smooth deep voice and always his love of the Lord. We do know one thing – we are so blessed to have had him as our father and we will aspire to live every day in a way that honors his example. We love you Dad.
www. BerryMcGreevey.com Berry-McGreevey & Donald Martens and Sons Funeral Home and Cremation Service 26691 Detroit Rd. , Westlake, OH 44145 440-617-1911 SERVICES Visitation Sunday, March 10, 2019 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM Berry-McGreevey & Donald Martens and Sons Funeral Home and Cremation Service 26691 Detroit Rd.
Westlake, Ohio 44145 Get Directions on Google Maps Trisagion Service Sunday, March 10, 2019 6:00 PM Berry-McGreevey & Donald Martens and Sons Funeral Home and Cremation Service 26691 Detroit Rd.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
