Fotis Mouzakis was born the son of Vangelis and Chrisoula (Tsikaridou) Mouzakis on November 21st, 1957 in Athens, Greece. Fotis grew up in Athens and the island his family was from, Kea (Tzia). In 1975, he graduated high school from the 17thLyceum for Boys of Athens and continued to keep in touch with his classmates throughout the years. In 1978, Fotis received inheritance from his uncle, which he used to move to the United States and study English at Findlay College in Ohio. For years, he kept a newspaper clipping for the English program and a photo of his uncle in his wallet. He was then admitted to the University of Iowa in 1978, where he met the mother of his children, Lynne. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis in Biomedical Engineering in 1981. Fotis completed his Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Cleveland State University in 1985.
Fotis started his 35-year career in Point-of-Sale computer systems as a partner of RMS, Inc. in 1985 in Des Moines, Iowa. He founded RMS, and led it through acquisition by Telxon which became the leading provider of Inventory Systems to the grocery industry. During this time, Fotis was honored by placement in the Who’s Who. Over his lengthy career, he traveled numerous places for business and lived in Jacksonville and Tampa, Florida as well as Tucson, Arizona. He retired in 2020 from NCR corporation.
Fotis’s greatest treasure was his children and grandchildren, and would often say his only desire was to bring them happiness. He gave them every opportunity possible, taking them to multiple countries across the globe as children. Fotis was a world traveler, proud to say he had been to all 50 states and to 6 continents. Throughout his travels and life, he came to know an amazing group of friends whom he considered family. Every summer was spent in Greece at his home in Tzia, with long days on the beach enjoying a frappe by the sea. Here, he loved long walks to the lion of Tzia, and dinners with family and friends. Fotis opened his home to so many people, and treasured his memories with them on the island.
Fotis was so proud of his Greek heritage, and made sure that his daughters and grandsons knew the history of his homeland and its beautiful traditions. Fotis loved his Greek soccer team Panathinaikos with a passion, incorporating their team color of green into all aspects of his life from clothing, to his car color, and even substituting the traditional blue for green as the trim color on his Greek vacation home. Fotis was also a big Iowa Hawkeyes basketball fan, in 1980 he waited in line all night in the winter weather just to get tickets to the Final Four. Fotis was passionate about all he loved, and this is why that same passion is shared by all those that will miss him so dearly.
Fotis is survived by two daughters, Chrisoula (Justin) Harris and Katy (Devin) Paine Mouzakis; three grandchildren, Fotis Zakkary Harris, Hudson Liam Harris, and Baby Paine Mouzakis due in June 2021; sister Vaso (Yiorgos) Siouli; girlfriend Nhi Jenner; and many loving in-laws, nieces, nephews and a host of longtime friends. Fotis was preceded in death by his parents; and his sister, Ekaterina Mouzaki.
A public visitation will be held from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm on Saturday, January 16th, 2021 at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home in Mandarin at 11801 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32223. Please wear green in remembrance of Fotis.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of HARDAGE-GIDDENS FUNERAL HOME OF MANDARIN, 11801 San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32223. www.hgmandarin.com (904) 288-0025.
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