John B. Polizos

John B. Polizos passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on January 29, 2025. He is survived by his beloved wife Koula Polizos of 66 years; he is the father of Bill J. Polizos (Karen) and Elizabeth Menking (Scott). He is the proud grandfather of John Polizos and Cory (Bridget), Dana (Pauline) Menking and the great grandfather of Owen John Menking. He is also survived by his sisters, Ellie Mallos and Xanthi Noutsos.

John was born February 22, 1929 in the small village of Boutirou, Evrytania, Greece. Along with his parents, Vasilios and Elisabeth, he was preceded in death by his sisters Ekaterini Ioakim, Filoula Zaharopoulos, Georgia Papaspirou and his brother Nikolaos Polizos.

John is both a paradigm of family love and the achievement of the American dream. As Greece struggled through World War II, the Greek Civil War, and through severe economic depression, John responded by first going to Athens to earn money to send back to his parents and siblings in the village. He later emigrated to the United States where he worked multiple jobs to continue to help his family back in Greece and to establish his own financial independence. After serving two years in the U.S. Army, he returned to Greece and married Koula in their childhood church of St. Paraskevi in Boutirou and brought her with him back to America.

Working a variety of jobs by day and taking classes on banking at night, John was hired by Old Dominion Bank (next to become First Virginia Bank, then BB&T and now Truist). While working to establish himself in this new country, he in turn helped many family members and friends who had emigrated from Greece in the 1960s and 70s. He invited many to live in his home, sometimes for weeks and even months, until they were able to provide housing for themselves. As a banker he helped many fellow Greek immigrants with tax advice and with navigating the intricacies of bank loans and investments to help them with the challenges of a new American life. He was also a long-term member of the Velouchi organization, a charitable organization whose charter is to provide aid to the needy in the area of Greece from which he came. John served as Treasurer to its local “Itia” chapter for many years. He was a steward of Saint Katherine Greek Orthodox Church since its beginnings in the early 1960s where John and Koula raised their children within the faith and traditions of Orthodox Christianity. In retirement, they enjoyed many excursions together to Greece, the Caribbean, Hawaii, and they also made many road trips to see the various attractions in a variety of the continental states.

John should be remembered for the heartfelt love he conveyed to his family, friends, and to so many others whose life he touched. This selfless love endeared him to many and will live on in the life of all those who were fortunate to have experienced and been touched by his gentle and loving soul. If as the Bible states “God is love,” then his earthly life was always lived in the presence and inspiration of God, and he lives on now in the holy embrace of Christ.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Saints Katherine Greek Orthodox Church on February 4, 2025.

Visitation from 10:00 - 11:00 am in the church, with a funeral service at 11:00, followed by the burial service and a Makaria luncheon in the church hall.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be made in the name of John Polizos to Saint Katherine Greek Orthodox Church, 3149 Glen Carlyn Drive, Falls Church, Virginia