George A. Christakis
“Papou” “Dynamite”
Hobart, IN
Age 98 years and 10 months, entered into eternal life on Saturday March 30,
2013. George was born in New York City as the son of immigrant
parents Anthony Christakis of Chios, Greece and Stella Valcek Christakis of
Ukrainia. George lived most of his life in Gary & Hobart. George was a likeable, religious, generous man who had a strong, pure love for his family. He helped make the world a better place by positively effecting every person he came into contact with. He retired from US Steel in 1979 after 30 years of service. George was a member of SS Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral and a member of its Senior Citizens Group. He was a sergeant and WWII Hero during the Invasion of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge, receiving the Bronze Star Medal for bravery. George was chosen along with his friend Al Terzes to fly aboard the Honor Flight Chicago Oct. 23, 2012 that traveled to Washington, DC. George was a former great Gary athlete and a second baseman in the Boston Red Sox organization in the early 1940s, working his way through the system up to the highest level of the minor leagues and to spring training, before being drafted into the Army. George was a manager for many successful Mannbridge Little League & Horace Mann Babe Ruth teams in Gary. George was nicknamed “Dynamite” during his successful basketball career for Gary Froebel in the 1930s. George was an active member for over 30 years of the Hobart YMCA and represented the Hobart Y when he threw out the first ball at a Railcats Game. George was also named Hobart’s
Most Vital Senior. George has also been the recipient of the Gary Old Timers
Athletic Association Annual Recognition award. He was a New York Yankee fan and also liked all Chicago pro sports teams and Purdue football & basketball. George was married to Ann J. (Inest), an RN, for nearly 64 years, she preceded him in death Oct. 3, 2010. They were very close to their two children, Dean George Christakis of Hobart and Sandra Ann (Jerry) Pero of Crown Point; 2 granddaughters, Kimberly (Randall) Collins of Zionsville, IN and Kelly (Robert) Petty of Hobart; 4 great grandchildren, Brooklyn Rae 7, Benjamin George 3, Lily Rose 2 1/2 and Landon Robert born March 6, 2013; 1 sister Alice “Jeannie” (Arthur) Kurth of Valparaiso: many loving nieces, nephews and special YMCA friends, Chris, Chuck , Ron and Willie; He was preceded in
death by his brothers, Nick & John Christakis; sisters, Mary Turpa, Helen
Kikalos, Ann Sanchez and sister-in-law, Eve Inest. A special thanks to Dr. Lauren Harting, Dr. Bryan Waldo and Dr. Zlatan Stepanovic. Friends may visit with George’s family at Burns Funeral Home, 10101 Broadway, Crown Point, Thursday, April 4, 2013 from 2-8 p.m. Trisagion Service at 4 pm. Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 5, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at SS Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 8000 Madison St, Merrillville. Father Ted Poteres and Father Jim Greanias officiating. Entombment
Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.