Peter Paftinos, an accomplished septuagenarian Long Islander, a proud veteran, immigrant, and charismatic patriot, passed away peacefully at Winthrop Hospital in Mineola due to chronic lung disease, he was 75. So naturally bright and perpetually wise, with a warmth about him that truly radiated from his golden heart, he was a copiously loving son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather. An adorer of the English language, there was little argument from anyone he graced that he always knew what to say, and more importantly, when to say it.
Born Panagiotis Paftinos on the Greek island of Lemnos May 14, 1945 to parents Pantellis and “Tessie” Anastasia, windmill owner-operators who then just a few years after his birth emigrated to New York along with toddler Peter and his new infant younger sister. Settling in southern Freeport, on Vanburen Street, his formative years were spent attending Freeport public schools when he was not off honing his fishing skills (often with his mother) using the family skiff boat in the Great South Bay - both an activity and body of water he would develop a lifelong cherishment of. In 1961 the family moved to Jamaica, Queens in order to be closer to the family diner/luncheonette business, Step In Restaurant on Hillside Avenue in Jamaica Estates. Then in 1964, he was drafted into the US Army’s 101st Airborne Division to provide “death from above” as a Screaming Eagle during two tours as a Paratrooper in the Vietnam War. Completing numerous jumps in country, he was wounded in combat and honorably discharged. He also served as an MP for the Military Police while stationed during active duty.
After the war he returned to civilian life and started a family. Marrying Phyllis, who would be his unwaveringly loving wife of 30 years, and settling in Seaford, NY where they raised their two sons by showering them with love and taking them on long bike rides, fishing on his Grady-White boat, or teaching all the local youngsters of Nancy Lane how to play poker, using pretzels as the money. All while establishing himself as a beloved civil servant at the New York State Department of Labor, where as a Veterans Affairs Specialist he assisted other veterans in finding gainful employment and navigating post-military careers. He was known to spread vast cheer around the office with his famous collections of loud Hawaiian shirts, array of jokes, and intriguing tales from the past. He retired just this past August after 40 years of service and many active years in the Public Employees Federation (PEF) union Division 200, including a stint as treasurer for a short time.
A fiend for history and an avid reader, he was rarely not seen with a book in his hand and as a result had literary prowess akin to an English professor. He had a knack for using his brilliant vernacular and vast vocabulary in a careful way as to not condescend but rather to engage you, usually accompanied by an amusing idiom or heartwarming expression. Peter would easily approach politicians or CEOs that he conversed with using a distinct matter-of-fact style of speaking, yet he would extend the same candor and wit while giving his advice to the less fortunate. To him all men were truly created equal. A staunch advocate of civics, democracy, and environmental conservation, especially in his own backyard garden where he insisted on using “the same fertilizer the American Indians used on this land for hundreds of years”, heads of the fish from his local catches. Most importantly he believed in helping your fellow man and being altruistic to all animals, especially his beloved dogs and cat through the years, always rescues, and many rescued by the man himself, some through heroic means.
He will be truly missed by all that were lucky enough to know him or interact with him. He leaves behind sister Eleni, sons Robert and Paul, grandson Jaden, ex-wife Phyllis, aunt “Thea” Evangeline, and many beloved cousins.
A prankster until the end, he will be given his longtime wish to have his gravestone read “What a ride!”.
Wake and viewing to be held at Fredrick Funeral Home in Flushing, Queens on Sunday, January 24th from 3pm to 7 pm. A private funeral ceremony will follow at Flushing Cemetery with burial to include full military honors.
May our Peter Rest in Peace, “gory gory hallelujah – he aint gonna jump no more.”
Partager l'avis de décès
v.1.8.18