Constantinos "Costas" Dimitrios Vafeas

Constantinos “Costas” Dimitrios Vafeas, age 88 of Sarasota, FL passed away March 5, 2025. He was born on August 14, 1936 in Heraklion, the capital of the Greek island of Crete, to Dimitrios Constantinos Vafeas and Anastiasia Micheli Vafeas. As a child he played nearby in the archeological site of the Palace of Knossos, dating back to 2,000 BC to the Minoan civilization.

Costas attended and graduated from primary and secondary schools in Crete. His schooling was interrupted for a period of time in 1943-1944 after Germany’s invasion of Crete during WWII, when German officers occupied their home. The Cretan’s fierce resistance to the German airborne invasion in May-June 1941 is credited as one of the reasons why Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union was unsuccessful. Costas was very proud of his Cretan heritage.

At the age of 17, Costas enlisted in the Greek Navy and completed his compulsory military service in Greece. He then joined the Greek Merchant Marines and steadily rose through the Officer ranks. He eventually obtained his unlimited tonnage ocean-going freighter Captain’s master license. He Captained cargo ships to six of the seven continents and all major world-wide shipping ports of call. It was when sailing to the port of Rotterdam, Netherlands that he initially met his “blond-haired, blue-eyed Dutch girl.” After two years of courtship, he married the love of his life and bride of nearly 58 years, Johanna.

After many years at sea (with his wife and young son along for the journey), the family immigrated to Sarasota, Florida in 1975, when the Greek shipping company owner asked him to come stateside to manage the administrative functions of the freighter fleet. It was in Sarasota that his second son was born.

Costas and his business partner eventually bought the shipping company and continued to operate it for several years. When that company was eventually sold, Costas opened a retail shop in Sarasota Square Mall called Travelog Gift Shop, opening as one of the original stores when the mall opened in 1977. Costas and his family operated this store continually until his retirement in 2001.

Costas was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, had a strong work ethic and was a true self-made man. He loved his church, St. Barbara’s Greek Orthodox Church, and his faith and heritage were always very important to him.

Preceded in death by his parents, Dimitrios and Anastiasia; and sister, Georgia “Julie” Pelos, Costas is survived by his wife, Johanna Vafeas; two sons, Dimitrios Vafeas (Nancy) and Neil Vafeas (Traci); grandchildren, Alexander, Olivia, Myla and Brenna Vafeas

Funeral Services will be held Monday, March 10, 2025 at 10:00 am at Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 7671 N. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL 34243 where the family will receive friends starting at 9:00 am. Burial following at Palms Memorial Park, Sarasota.

Memorial donations, in lieu of flowers may be made to the church in Costas memory.