Constantine "Connie" Angelos Pontikes Sr.

An All-City multi-sport athlete, he attended Lanier Junior High, Lamar High School, and graduated from the University of Houston, where he was a letterman and starting point guard for one of the first Cougar basketball teams playing as a teammate of, amongst others, Guy V. Lewis. He was proudly a lifetime member of the “H” Association of former Lettermen.

Connie was preceded in death by his parents, Angelos and Mary Pontikes, and brother George Pontikes. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Geraldine; his children, Katherine Pontikes Enlow and her husband Jim, Deborah Pontikes Ellis, Constantine A. Pontikes, Jr. “Andy” and his wife Kate; grandchildren, Hunter Enlow, Katie Enlow, Tyler Ellis, Alexander Ellis, Caroline Ellis, Pierce Pontikes, Karsten Pontikes and Drew Pontikes, all of Houston; sisters. Katherine Pontikes Cokinos, and her husband General Mike P. Cokinos, and Gail Pontikes Shannon and her husband John; and nephew, Brian Saad, all of Houston.

During World War II, Connie was in the United States Navy and served throughout the Pacific Theater. Honorably discharged, he then went on to college and upon graduation, rose to the rank of Captain in the United States Air Force, serving during the Korean War stationed all over the country, primarily Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. He is among the few to have honorably served in two branches of the Armed Forces. He was most fond of telling his children and grandchildren of his many experiences on board his ship during the War in faraway places such as Guam, the Philippines, Talofofo Bay, the Marianas, or the island of Yap.

Connie spent his entire business career in the commercial business equipment industry, and was the Owner and CEO of Houston Typewriter, Inc., the oldest office equipment dealer in the City of Houston, and the A.M.D. Corporation where, among other things, he helped introduce the first commercial electronic calculator to the City in 1962. He was honored many times for his numerous achievements, was a 45 year member of the National Office Machine Dealers Association, and was single handedly responsible for helping start distributorships in the Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas region for Canon Inc. with exclusivity.

He was a member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Houston, where his mother was a founding member. What he loved most in life was his family, and hearing about their many experiences and accomplishments. His greatest thrill however, was watching his children’s or grandchildren’s sporting events in person, where he would cheer them on as their greatest fan. If unable to attend an event, he was the first to call and always asked for a “blow by blow” account of how the games were played, etc. Connie had many interests, but by far his greatest thrill was playing golf with his family and friends. He was a man of great honor and integrity, trusted by all, and a fiery competitor. He always believed that a man’s word and handshake should be good as Gold.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Thursday, the 11th of April, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive, where Trisagion Prayers are to commence at half-past six o’clock.

A funeral service is to be conducted at ten o’clock in the morning on Friday, the 12th of April, at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 3511 Yoakum Boulevard in Houston.

Honored to serve as casket bearers during the services are Brian Saad, Michael Cokinos, Page Cokinos, Gregory Cokinos, Kevin Cokinos, Christopher Cokinos, Christian Pontikes, Evan Pontikes, George Pontikes, Coach Gavrel and Jim Enlow.

Serving as honorary pallbearers are Pierce Pontikes, Karsten Pontikes, Drew Pontikes, Hunter Enlow, Tyler Ellis, Alexander Ellis, Larry Ellis, and Gerald Arnold.

Interment is to follow, via an escorted cortege, at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be directed to the Vitas Inpatient Unit at Hermann Memorial City Medical Center, 921 Gessner Rd., East Tower, 8th Floor, Houston, TX, 77024; or to the charity of one’s choice.