Ioannis (John) Spirakis

January 2, 1951 - April 14, 2018

Ioannis (John) Spirakis, father and popular member of the San Francisco Greek community, passed away on April 14 of this year, surrounded by his children and extended family.

Janni, as he was known, was born in Petalidi, Greece on January, 2, 1951 to Demosthenes and Evagelia. Petalidi, a small but vibrant agricultural and fishing town, was the scene of his childhood. He eventually left Petalidi to complete vocational school in the nearby larger city of Kalamata to become a plumber. He married Vivi Kastoras in 1977, and soon after, they moved to San Francisco, where they began to build their family of three children. In 1989, the couple split, but he continued to work to help his children and be part of their lives, working as successful plumber and eventually, a landlord. He loved hunting and the outdoors. He proudly celebrated the weddings of his daughters and son, and loved the time he spent with the grandchildren they gave him. In 2016, after a 50-year career, he retired and spent the new found time among his friends in the Greek community, and in the presence of his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his daughters, Eva Spirakis and Maria Spirakis-Mena, his son Dimo Spirakis, three grandchildren Niko and Melina Mena, and William Casey, and his sister Dora Georgaki.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30am on Sunday, May 20, 2018 at Resurrection Greek Orthodox Church in Castro Valley, CA.