Ioannis "John" Lazarakis

Ioannis “John” Lazarakis was born in Saint Ioannis (Agiannis), near Yerakas, Lakonia (Greece), on August 16th, 1938. The first of four children born to Konstantinos and Argiroula Lazarakis. He attended elementary school in his village and, like many other children of that era, at the age of 12 he began working, collecting figs in the nearby small town of Asopos. At 14 he started sailing on small merchant vessels, transporting goods such as carob, acorns, oregano, flour, lumber, etc. between ports across mainland Greece and the islands. During this period, he also worked as a dock worker at the port of Piraeus whenever sailing jobs weren’t available.

At 18 John joined the Greek Navy where he served for 30 months. After completing his compulsory military service, he joined the crew of the Queen Frederica, a cruise ship operating a regular route between Piraeus and New York. John always dreamed of living in America one day “The Land of Opportunity”, where dreams come true. And in 1958 he got that opportunity.

Through a special work program John was granted a U.S. Visa then years later U.S. citizenship. Landing in New York, he lived and worked with his first cousin, Makis Lazarakis, as a commercial painter. In 1968 John was working as an independent contractor for a painting company in Connecticut, and after many years of absence he decided to go back to Greece to visit his parents.

On his return visit, he reconnected with some old childhood friends, including a young pretty girl named Panagiota who grew up in the neighboring village of Yerakas. Panagiota was already preparing to move to the U.S. to join her brother, Lazaros, who was living in Las Vegas with his wife Sophia.

After a brief courtship they fell in love and got engaged. A few months later John and Panagiota left Greece and flew to New York where they lived with John’s relatives. A couple of months later, they, along with John’s brother Dimitrios, packed their belongings and drove cross-country to check out Las Vegas.

They loved the warm weather and much milder winters, compared to back east. They soon planted roots in Las Vegas, and in 1969 they got married. With the help of Panagiota’s brother Lazaros, they purchased the home across the street from him. A year later their daughter Roula was born and the year after that their son Dean. Having a fierce work ethic, John soon had a successful Painting business, allowing Panagiota to stay home and raise their children.

John was a loving and devoted family man who absolutely adored his grandchildren and was always willing to help a family member or friend in need. He also thoroughly enjoyed being part of the local St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church community, and always looked forward to the annual St. John’s Greek Food Festival, where he, along with many other volunteers, worked tirelessly for days, helping ensure its success.

John is survived by his wife Panagiota, daughter Roula, son Dean, grandsons Yianni and Nico, sister Georgia Sofos, brother Dimitrios Lazarakis, nieces Katerina Sofos, Maria George, nephews Michael Sofos, Kostas and Angelo Lafkas, Dino and Theodore Lazarakis, daughter-in-law Heidi Lazarkis, sisters-in-law Christina Lazarakis, Soula Lafkas, and Yolanda Georgakopoulos, brothers-in-law George Lafkas and Manolis Georgakopoulos.

Funeral services are scheduled for January 8, 2025, starting at 9:30 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church (5300 El Camino Rd. Las Vegas, NV), concluding at the burial site, Palm Mortuary (7600 S. Eastern Ave. Las Vegas, NV) at 11:30 a.m.

A memorial luncheon will follow at 12:30 p.m. at Bone Fish Grill (6527 S. Las Vegas Blvd.)

In lieu of sending flowers, please make a donation to: St, John’s Greek Orthodox Church in his name.