Many people knew him as Greek, but to us, he was simply Dad—a man who took care of us and loved us through it all.
When we think of Dad, we picture him elbow-deep under the hood of a car, fixing something, with oil and dirt seemingly permanently under his fingernails. If he wasn’t working on a vehicle, he was out back tending to the cows or finding something else that needed to be repaired. There was always something to fix, and Dad always seemed to know just how to fix it.
Dad was well known wherever we went. It didn’t matter who we came across; he would often say, “Yeah, I know that guy,” and before we knew it, he was off talking to them. He never met a stranger for long and had a way of making friends wherever he went. He was always willing to lend a helping hand and was one of the hardest workers we knew.
He saw value in things that many others did not—and that included people. Dad loved everyone and would do whatever he could for his family, his friends, and anyone else who needed him. He was the kind of man who seemed to have everything. If you needed something, Dad probably had it. If he didn’t, he would find it for you—or he knew someone who had it.
Some of our favorite memories of Dad include finding him in his room watching television, watching Westerns or, if you caught him on the right day, hearing Telemundo blasting throughout the house as he told us he could understand it. We can picture him wearing his suspenders and bandana, smiling. But more often than not, you could probably hear him yelling from a mile away. Dad wasn’t happy unless he was yelling—and somehow, that was just Dad.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Velvet Contsicos.
He leaves behind his children, John Machemer and his wife, Stacy; Courtney Contsicos; Jessie Contsicos; Demitrius J. Contsicos; Cheyenne Contsicos; Summer Bell; James Machemer; David Machemer; Donald “Butch” Machemer; and Eileen Machemer. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Patricia Ann Machemer.
He also leaves behind his siblings, Leon Miller and his wife, Rosemarie; and Harry Miller. He was preceded in death by his brother, William J. Miller.
Dad was also blessed with 22 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren, all of whom were part of the family he loved so deeply.
To many, he was Greek—a friend, a hard worker, a mechanic, a farmer, and someone who was always willing to help. But to us, he was Dad. He was loud, stubborn, hardworking, generous, and unforgettable. He may have left oil under his fingernails, tools scattered around, and plenty of stories behind, but most importantly, he left behind a family who will carry his memory, his lessons, his humor, and his love with them always.
We will miss hearing him yell from across the yard, seeing him covered in grease while fixing something, watching him tend to the cows, and hearing him say, “Yeah, I know that guy.”
Many knew him as Greek.
But to us, he was Dad—and there will never be another like him.
In lieu of flowers, donations in honor and memory of John Contsicos “Greek” may be made to Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church.
A viewing will be Wednesday, September 9, 2026, from 10-12 noon in Sts. Constantine & Helen GOC, 1001 E Wyomissing Blvd., Reading PA 19611, with a service to begin at noon. Burial to follow in Berks County Memorial Gardens.
