Christopher Ioannou

Christopher Nicholas Ioannou was born on October 18th, 1994 in New York to Helen and Nicholas Ioannou. He was the younger brother of Michelle, the only grandson of Barbara and Christostomos Economos, and the Godson/nephew of Alexandra. Growing up, Christopher played Little League baseball in Bayside and was a Boy Scout at St. Nicholas. From a young age, Christopher displayed a level of empathy for others that was unrivaled by any other child and continued well into his adult life. Despite all of the hardships he faced after his diagnosis with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, he was always more concerned for the well-being of others than for himself. Of course, he wasn’t without his mischievous streak - his antics as a child included calling 911 with his cousin, Amanda, and throwing the phone in the toilet when they realized what they had done, as well as cutting up his Batman action figures into little pieces for his Yiayia to discover around her house. Christopher attended St. Nicholas William Spyropoulos Greek Orthodox Day School for ten years, where he made some of his best friends. These friends lasted with him from St. Nicholas all the way through his adult life. Always the smartest in every room, Christopher graduated salutatorian from The Henry Viscardi School in 2012 and received his Associate of Arts degree from Queensborough Community College in 2015. He was revered by his friends and family for his vast knowledge, as well as his ability to retain trivia facts and spit them out at any moment. As a lifelong sports fan, Christopher was a big supporter of the New York Mets and the New York Jets. Through the Make A Wish Foundation, he was able to attend Mets spring training and through the Muscular Dystrophy Association, he went bowling with his idol, David Wright. He loved the team so much that he became a sort-of good luck charm for them - at almost every single game he attended, the Mets won. More than anything, Christopher loved his family and friends. He loved being Greek and Greek Orthodox, especially because of how close it made him with everyone around him. Everyone who knew him knew exactly how much he loved them. Whether it was watching (and screaming at) football games with Michelle, staying up late playing video games with his cousin Amanda, or attempting to watch every single Star Wars movie in one day with his cousin Elizabeth, Christopher knew how to make every person feel special. He didn’t interact with any two people the exact same way but rather treated everyone with the distinct care and attention they deserved. This is a talent most people cannot master over the course of decades, and Christopher was the expert in just twenty-five years. His humor never failed to light up every single room that he entered. Above all else, Christopher was one of the strongest, most supportive people to ever live. When he was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at age four, the family was told he’d only live to eighteen. He defied those odds and lived an extra seven years, just shy of his twenty-fifth birthday. Christopher is survived by his mother Helen, sister Michelle, grandmother Barbara, Godmother Alexandra, and countless cousins, aunts, uncles, and great-aunts and uncles. The love for Christopher spread worldwide; he was adored by his family in the States, in London, in Greece, and in Cyprus. Please join us in celebrating the life of Christopher. Wake to be held: Tuesday, October 8th, 3:00pm - 8:00pm Frederick Funeral Home 192-15 Northern Blvd Flushing, NY Funeral service: Wednesday, October 9th, 10:30am St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church 196-10 Northern Blvd Flushing, NY In lieu of flowers, the family is accepting donations to the local Muscular Dystrophy Association headquarters, which did so much for Christopher and his family throughout the years. Checks can be made out to MDA.