Robert Stavrakas, formerly of Sandwich, Massachusetts passed away on January 29, 2023 at 5:15 after a moderate stay at Care One in Newton at the age of 94. He was the devoted father of Catherine Stavrakas, Mary Rose Pennington, John Spyros Stavrakas and Theodora Ann Drescher. He was grandfather of Michael Graham Whelan, Tara Marie Whelan, John Francis Whelan, Christina Demetra Stavrakas, Matthew Robert Stavrakas, Jennifer Jean Stavrakas and Chloe Jean Ju Drescher and two great-grand-sons, Hunter Robert Farley and Theodore Charles Jones.
Robert was born Haralambos Panayiotis Stavrakas in Brooklyn, New York and baptized at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Manhattan. His parents were Spyros Stavrakas and Mary (Maria Flamiatos) Stavrakas, both of Ithaca, Greece. Robert attended PS 94 and Brooklyn Technical High School. He completed service in the US 8th Air Force from 1946 to 1947 as an Information and Education Officer and received a Victory Medal. Robert attended Catholic University in the District of Columbia earning a BA in English. He was a high school teacher at New Dorp High School and Port Richmond High School in Staten Island, New York and eventually led Bernstein Intermediate School as its principal until he retired.
While traveling to work by ferry as a high school teacher on the first day of school one time, he met Jean Graham Templeton, who became his wife until her death in 1998. He lived with Jean and their family in Great Kills, Staten Island from 1955 until they moved to Sandwich in 1987.
As a young man, Robert became a Roman Catholic and participated as a member of that church for the rest of his life. In 2011, he became a professed member of the Discalced Carmelite Order, Secular (lay Carmelites) with the taken name of Joseph of the Holy Family. He attended daily mass at Corpus Christi Catholic Church while living in Sandwich.
Robert’s hobbies and pastimes included his life-long love of music and piano, an instrument that he played through his mid-eighties. Through his love of good food and gardening, he produced many pounds of homegrown tomatoes for himself and his family to enjoy. He planted many trees around his property to enhance the environment. He was an avid fan of the French language and participated in The French Institute and Club Richelieu, Fall River. He loved to read books in both English and French. He made many friends in many places and will be missed by all.
In the option of flowers or donations, donations can be made to the Northeast Organic Farmers Association of Massachusetts at NOFA/MA PO Box 60043, Florence, Massachusetts 01062. Donations can be made online at www.nofamass.org.
Friends and relatives are welcome to visit the Nickerson Bourne Funeral Home, 154 Route 6A, Sandwich, MA 02563 for Calling hours 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 2, 2023 Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 3, 2023 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church 324 Quaker Meeting House Road East Sandwich, MA. Burial to follow at the Sandwich Town Cemetery.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.nickersonbournefh.com for the Stavrakas family.
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