Christ Hondras

Christ Hondras passed away at the age of 90 on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 in Marietta, Georgia. He was surrounded by his loving family as he succumbed to a ruptured aneurysm. Born in Lancaster, PA, he was the son of Greek immigrants and the baby of six children. Christ was a devoted husband to his teenage sweetheart, “Sis” Mildred (Schlinkman) Hondras, for 70 years, and a dedicated father to Christine (Hondras) Mayk, Michael Hondras and Elaine (Hondras) LaMontagne; son-in-laws Richard Mayk and Stephen LaMontagne; grandchildren Lauren (Mayk) D’Alessandro, Richard Mayk, Nicole (LaMontagne) Campbell and Matthew LaMontagne; their spouses Gene D’Alessandro, Tressa Mayk and Griffin Campbell; as well as great grandchildren Owen, Charles and Alex Mayk.

Greek heritage was front and center in Christ’s life. He was a longtime member of the Lancaster Greek Orthodox Church, a founder of the Boca Raton Greek Orthodox Church, and a popular member of the Marietta Greek Orthodox Church. He served as Chairman of many Greek Festivals as well as a volunteer where he “counted the money” and took pride in having friends and family enjoy the traditions.

A 1947 graduate of McCaskey High School in Lancaster, Christ was a star football, baseball and basketball player. From 1947-1951, he served in the United States Air Force. As a veteran, he went on to receive his undergraduate degree at Millersville University and then his Masters in Administration at his beloved Penn State University – all while working nights as a taxi driver and part-time cook as he was supporting his young family. He also worked several years at the Pentagon in Washington DC. “WE ARE - PENN STATE” was sacred in his household as he enthusiastically cheered his Nittany Lions his entire life.

Upon receiving his advanced degree, he worked at Hempfield High School in Lancaster from 1962-1975, as a math teacher, head baseball coach, assistant football coach, and went on to become a principal and assistant superintendent. Known as a lovable yet tough disciplinarian, he was awarded Teacher of the Year, won a State Baseball Championship, and had a yearbook dedicated to him.

In 1975 he decided to move his wife and youngest child (oldest two were adults) to Boca Raton, FL for a sabbatical to get his Doctoral Specialist degree at Florida Atlantic University. His love of tennis and the year-round warm weather made Boca home for the next 20 years. After retiring, Christ and Sis moved to Marietta, GA to be close to two of his children who had moved to metro-Atlanta. There, he became a favorite substitute teacher in Cobb County, and a constant fixture (and occasional assistant coach) at his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting venues – from little league baseball and basketball to Walton football and cheerleading, and tennis clubs throughout metro Atlanta. While playing tennis before his physical ailments took hold, he often bragged that he was undefeated in mixed doubles with his daughter.

His passion for sports, family and Greek food was evident to all that knew him. Christ was also an avid card player, loved watching sports and westerns on TV, plus enjoyed listening to Frank Sinatra, Dionne Warwick and Billy Eckstine music. Speaking of music, Christ and Sis’ song was Nat King Cole’s version of “They Try to Tell us We’re Too Young”, but after 70 years together, they certainly proved that concept wrong.

Christ Hondras’ funeral will be a private family gathering graveside at Green Lawn Cemetery in Roswell on Wednesday, March 17.

In lieu of flowers, donations on his behalf can be made to the Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, 3431 Trickum Road, Marietta, GA 30066.