John was officially born on July 26th 1928 in a small village named Glossa, on the island of Skopelos in Greece. In reality, he was born on July 25th around 11pm. His aunt Eleni Limberis remembers because she was there. He was supposed to be named Spiros after his Father’s brother in Mississippi, but after he was born he was named John (Ioannis) after his mother’s father because of his fair hair and resemblance to him.
Although life was hard in those years, John grew up very strong both physically and mentally. He and his brothers, like most children in rural villages, began working at a very early age. They survived injuries, illnesses, hard work and even a World War before coming to Canada. While the hard times were very hard, the good times were too good to even imagine on the beautiful island of Skopelos. He often dreamed of those years where everyday was a challenge, and yet an adventure.
John grew very fast and was very large and strong for his age. Because of this he was able to leave the island and join the resistance movement in August in 1944. He and others left the island at dusk and embarked on an unforgettable, forever life changing experience. John survived the war, but the war changed him forever. For those interested, he wrote a book about his personal experiences titled “OTAN OI TYRANI MAS PIRANTED TI LEFTERIA” (English translation “When Tirany Took Our Freedom”.
After the war John left Skopelos to go to school in Piraeus. He attended and graduated from the technical school PROMYTHEUS as a marine engineer. His dream was to be a captain one day. Just months before his graduation, he was called to do his military service. He was made a book keeper and was stationed in Larissa. With incredible determination and sacrifice, he found a way to do his service, study on his own, and completed his final exams in Piraeus to get his diploma. After four and a half years, he had to finish the last months of his education without attending the school. He used every resource he had to find a way to finish and get his diploma. He was forever grateful to his uncle Spiros Larigakis in Mississippi for funds he sent him to go to school, and to the Andonakis family with whom he lived in Piraeus. Mando, Nikki and Christina Andonakis, now Christodoulou, Georgas and Tsoukalas all live in Vancouver. They were just little girls in that home at that time.
After his military service, John realized that he did not have a future in Greece. The political climate meant that his dream of being a captain could never be realized. His brothers Nikos and Spiros had already immigrated to Canada, so he was destined to follow. With a little persuasion, he was on a ship, and on December 6th 1953, he was stepping off a train in Vancouver. John, like many new immigrants worked very hard, with his brothers in business, as a labourer in pulp mills, and as heavy duty machinist at Burrard Dry Dock. John claimed to have 41 first cousins, many of them also immigrated to British Columbia.
John’s plan was to work for 5 years, save some money and go back to Greece. John met his wife to be in April of 1956. Although she was born in Vancouver, Anastasia, known as Tessie Chapelas was born of Greek immigrants. Her family knew many of John’s relatives who introduced John to Tessie. In June of 1956, they were engaged. In August of 1956, they married and in 1958, had a son and named him “Angelo” after John’s father. This would be their only child. The times were not easy in those years and a desire to try something new lead John to take his family to California where he had his two uncles Paul Makris & Bishop Dimitrios Makis.
For a wonderful 6 years John, Tessie and Angelo lived in Los Angeles where they made many close friends. He ran a successful clothing business in Long Beach catering mostly to Greek freighters and seamen. His years in the war, his school in Pireaus, and his time in the military service, proved to be very helpful in his business as he seemed to know people on every Greek vessel arriving in the port. He loved California. The climate was like Greece, and for the first time he established roots, had a home, a family and very close friends who loved him. Barbeques and celebrations seemed to be a weekly occurrence. In 1965, things began to change. The Vietnam War and riots in Los Angeles made John and Tessie decide to return to Canada where the bulk of their families lived.
Returning to Canada was a big adjustment. He eventually bought a home, started a business “Poseidon Fish Market”, and began to enjoy being back in Canada. John love outdoor life. Every fall, he would go hunting with his brother Nick and his cousin Thomas Makris. He made friends all over British Columbia. At one point, he taught himself the art of taxidermy. He was very successful creating many amazing ducks, pheasants, deer heads, bears and bear skins. John was always known for his artistic nature. One thing he was always bitter about was a lost opportunity to go to art school in Greece. As a youth, he had won a competition in the province of Magnesia, which would have given him a scholarship to go to art school. Unfortunately, the war broke out and he was never able to fulfill his dream. Up until his last days, he never stopped imagining and creating new things. He was very proud of his grandson and namesake “John” who had just completed a “graphic design program” at Capilano University. John was very excited to know that his grandson, having both talent and opportunity, is now beginning a promising new career as an artist.
John’s health eventually limited what he would be able to do. In 1975, he had his first heart problem. He had to have bypass surgery. This surgery was repeated in 1986 and again in 1991. Doctors thought of him as a phenomenon, as he survived almost 35 years after his first and subsequent surgeries. Fortunately, he was able to retire after selling his business and home in Kerrisdale at 56 years of age. His son Angelo got married, and shortly after John, Tessie and the whole family including the two grandchildren Christina and John moved to North Vancouver in 1989. Life was good on the North Shore. He became an avid gardener, barbequer and best of all full time Papou! John believed in the simple life and was very content fixing things, cooking, reading, socializing and preparing for his yearly hunting excursion.
John lived a very full but simple life. He believed in simplicity. He was never bored. At 82, he was still grafting trees and making plans. He knew for a long time that he could go at any time from a heart attack or a stroke. He chose not to let those thoughts interfere with his life. He had things to do. He kept diaries for over 20 years and only stopped writing in them on May 7th 2010 when he began his final descent. His last month of life was difficult but he faced it bravely. He gave his sincerest advice to everyone who visited him. He died peacefully at home…proud and without regrets. He did not shed a tear.
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