Attorney Robert Louis Xifaras, the Patriarch of the Xifaras family, famously and affectionately known as "Mr. X" passed away on December 23, 2022, at home surrounded by family after a recent fall.
Born in New Bedford on March 24, 1929, he was the son of the late Louis and Stella (Gerakaris) Xifaras, the owners of the former Athens Bakery located in the North End of New Bedford. Mr. X was a member of the St. George Greek Orthodox Church which his father helped build.
Mr. X attended local schools, belonged to the Jr. ROTC and later went on to the United States Navy Reserve and the United States Air Force Reserve.
He graduated from Northeastern University and obtained his law degree from Northeastern Law School in Boston, with his roommate, the late Sheriff Dabrowski from New Bedford.
Mr. X was active on several local boards including being the youngest President of the New Bedford Board of Realtors, the Chairman of the New Bedford Airport Commission, Chairman of the Personnel Policy Board, Member of the Board of Appeals, New Bedford Planning Board and Commissioner to Qualify Public Officials, Legal Advisor of the Power Squadron, Trustee of Fairhaven Savings Bank, a Corporator of NBIS and Trustee of the St. George Greek Orthodox Church.
He was also a longtime member of the Wamsutta Club of New Bedford and the Acoaxet Club of Westport Harbour, MA.
An article in the Standard Times named Mr. X one of the eight Power Brokers in Southeastern Mass and described him "An Entrepreneur." In another Standard Times article, they nicknamed him one of the "Goldust Twins" after he and Pat Carney developed over 1,100 local apartment units referred to as Buttonwood Acres, Rockdale West, Bayberry, Solemar apartments and Montcalm Heights. Attorney Xifaras along with his deceased wife of 36 years, Barbara Ann (Fay) Xifaras Cole, also were the owners of Alhambra's Nightclub, The Vault Restaurant, Monson Academy, Seacoast Finance, Horizons Beach Club and Pond Meadow, the former 22-acre Charlton Estate in Westport Harbour, MA and various real estate developments and properties.
In later years, Mr. X won first place in the Fourth of July Poetry Works for his poem "I Am American Made" which was a tribute to his Greek immigrant parents coming to this country. Mr. X was awarded a Certificate of Excellence when his poem was chosen for publication in the Great Poems of the Western World along with other honorable mentions and awards for his poetry.
Attorney Xifaras is survived by his fiancé, Ruth Desmarais, who was his inspiration for writing poetry!!, his son Michael Xifaras (wife Andrea), his daughters Stella Xifaras-Piva (husband Paul), Lois Andrade (husband Jeff), Susan Jeanne Xifaras (recently deceased fiancé Charles Akin), his grandchildren Barbara Lynn Lee, Robert Andrade, Jeffrey Andrade, Julie Kat Andrade, Nicholas Xifaras-Piva, Veronica Jeanne Xifaras-Piva, 2 great grandchildren Bridget Ann Lee, Brian Lee, several nieces and nephews including his beloved nephew Theodore Cote.
He also leaves his much-loved sister Jeannie Konstantakos and is the brother of the late siblings, Michael Xifaras, George Xifaras, Kay Brady, Steve Xifaras, Georgette Xifaras, Mary Cote and Dr. William Xifaras.
Calling hours are Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at the Saunders-Dwyer Funeral Home, 495 Park Street, New Bedford between 4pm-7pm. The funeral will be at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 186 Cross Road, Dartmouth at 10am on Thursday, January 5, 2023, followed by a burial at Pine Grove Cemetery, 1100 Ashley Boulevard, New Bedford. A celebration of Mr. X's life will be immediately held after the funeral service at the Century House, 107 S. Main Street, Acushnet.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Dartmouth.