Vasilios Papadoyiannis

Born and raised on the Greek island of Crete, he and his young wife, the former Argyre Zeakis, immigrated to the United States in 1967, moving to Staten Island with all their possessions in their suitcases. Hard work, energy and determination fulfilled their American dream, and they were proud to be citizens of the U.S., while still honoring their Greek heritage.

Mr. Papadoyiannis worked as a general mechanic for New York state at the Staten Island Developmental Disabilities Service Office in Willowbrook from 1968 until 1994, when he retired.

He was a member of Cretan Syllogos of Minos in Astoria, Queens.

Mr. Papadoyianis loved to cook and was a skilled gardener, growing vegetables, fruit and flowers. He enjoyed traveling on vacations with his wife and the couple often journeyed to Greece to see family there.

With no children of his own, Mr. Papadoyiannis was a loving uncle to his nieces and nephews and enjoyed spending time with family.

"He was a great uncle and a very good man," said his niece, Anna Lyons. "He always did the right thing, and he cared about everyone."

Mr. Papadoyiannis was a parishioner of Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Bulls Head.

Surviving, along with Argyre, his wife of 54 years, is his brother, George.

The funeral will be Wednesday with the liturgy at 9 a.m. in Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas Church. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery, Castleton Corners. Arrangements are being handled by the Casey Funeral Home, also Castleton Corners.