Stavros Kitsakos

Born and raised in Sparta, Greece, he was educated there. He immigrated to the United States when he was in his early 20s, moving to Manhattan. He also lived in Brooklyn before settling in Heartland Village 31 years ago.

A skilled carpenter, Mr. Kitsakos owned J & S Wood Arts for many years. He later worked for 18 years for Staten Island Developmental Disabilities Service Office in Willowbrook, until retiring in 2014.

Outgoing and social, he enjoyed trips to the summer Greek Festival upstate in the Catskills, where he loved to eat loukoumades, baklava and other pastries and Greek dishes that reminded him of his heritage.

Mr. Kitsakos played the bouzouki, a traditional Greek three-stringed instrument. Often, he would join in and play with local Greek bands.

Family-oriented, he was a loving uncle to his many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Kitsakos was a parishioner of Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Bulls Head.

Surviving are his wife of 44 years, the former Maria Viris; his daughter, Pauline Gentle; his brothers, Vasili and Panayotis; his sister, Panothria Kitsakos, and four grandchildren.

The funeral will be Saturday, with the liturgy at 9 a.m. in Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas Church. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery, Castleton Corners. Arrangements are being handled by the Casey Funeral Home, also Castleton Corners.