Arthur J. Gartaganis, 95, of New Bedford passed away Saturday January 23, 2021 at St. Luke’s Hospital.
Born and raised in New Bedford, the son of the late John A. and Maria J. (Moutsopoulou) Gartaganis, he lived in the Washington, D.C. area before retiring back to his family home in New Bedford. Each year he enjoyed visiting Athens, Greece with his sister Christina and her husband, Peter T. Gargas.
A graduate of New Bedford High School and Harvard University, he had been employed as an economist for the U.S. Government in Washington, D.C. until his retirement. He had also served in the U.S. Foreign Service in Athens for three years. He was a published author of the history of the Greek Community in New Bedford as well as the history of the New Bedford Theaters.
Mr. Gartaganis was a member of St. George Greek Orthodox Church. He was also a member of the Arcadian Society of Massachusetts. While on his annual trips to Greece, he loved visiting his family village in the province of Arcadia.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army with the Company G 310th Infantry Regiment and participated in the Battles of the Rhineland, the Ardennes, and Central Europe. He was wounded in action in Germany and awarded the Purple Heart medal. He also received the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon, the Army of Occupation of Germany Medal, the Victory Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal.
He is survived by several cousins and his devoted caregivers.
He was the brother of the late Christina G. Gargas, who passed away on January 20, 2021.
His Funeral Service will be held on Thursday February 4, 2021 at 11 AM at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 186 Cross Rd., Dartmouth. Burial with military honors will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery. Visiting hours are omitted. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.