James Pachares

Born in Akron, Ohio on June 14, 1923, Flag Day, Jim was the second of five children born to Panagiota and Konstandinos Pachares, Greek immigrants from Asia Minor (present day Turkey). As a young boy, Jim helped his family by shining shoes at his dad’s shoe repair shop and later worked at Firestone where he helped in the war effort. At age 19, Jim was drafted and served as an Army combat engineer in France and Germany during World War II. After the War, with the help of the G.I. Bill, Jim completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Akron and went on to earn a Ph.D in mathematical statistics from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

In 1953, Jim married the love of his life, Diana Hondros, and accompanied Diana and her family in their move to Southern California. Shortly thereafter Jim embarked on what was to be a four-decade career at Hughes Aircraft Company, where he worked as a Senior Scientist on various projects including the Surveyor moon landing and communication satellites and was devoted to his work. A true numbers guy, Jim taught mathematical statistics classes at UCLA Extension, tutored family and friends in math, did his own taxes, loved working sudoku puzzles (even mastering a few at the diabolical level), and remembered street addresses and everyone’s birthday. But Jim ultimately was a family guy. While Diana dominated in the kitchen, Jim could always be called upon for his precision knife skills in cutting an apple, expertly peeling an orange, cutting a rack of lamb, carving the Thanksgiving turkey or preparing souvlaki for the Greek church festival.

Up until Diana’s passing, Jim was an active congregant at St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church in Redondo Beach, where they would attend Sunday services followed by lunch with friends. Jim was also a long-time member of the American Hellenic Educational and Progressive Association (AHEPA). Jim and Diana shared a wonderful partnership in which they raised their two children, Olympia (Libby) and Dean, to whom they gave their unconditional love. When Diana’s health started to fail, Jim, then in his 90’s, became her primary caregiver, meticulously dispensing her many medications and caring for her every need. Following this example, Dean became Jim’s primary caregiver after Diana’s passing when Jim’s health started to fail, taking extraordinary care of him during his final years.

Jim was predeceased by his parents and siblings Helen Goumas, Lula Rafailedes, Sylvia Eliopoulos and Tony Pachares, his beloved Diana, Diana’s father John Hondros, her mother Olympia Hondros, and her brother Steve Hondros. Jim is survived by his children Libby and Dean, his son-in-law Alec Nedelman, his grandchildren James and Ariana, his brother-in-law Bill Hondros, his sisters-in-law Chris Hondros and Athena Pachares, many nieces and nephews and his large extended family.

He will be dearly missed by his family and his many friends, all of whom treasured his loving and giving spirit, his strong moral compass and boy scout values, his easy-going nature, his analytical mind and keen intellect as evidenced by his insightful questions regarding all things. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made either to St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church or to a charity of your choice.