Philip G. Joannides, 77, of Franklin, died Sunday, February 25, 2007 of complications from Alzheimer’s Disease at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Needham. He was the beloved husband of 55 years to Betty A. (Humphrey) Joannides.
Born in Watertown on April 17, 1929, he was a son of the late George and Helen (Covardes) Joannides. He was a resident of Franklin since 1962 and wintered in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida for over 20 years.
Mr. Joannides graduated from Watertown High School where he was captain of his football team and was All League. He received a football scholarship to St. Michaels’s College in Winooski, VT where he was also captain and was known as the Golden Greek. He studied there for two years until enlisting in the Air Force and upon an honorable discharge, graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from Brandeis University in Waltham.
Mr. Joannides was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War serving for 5 years and attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Prior to his retirement, Mr. Joannides owned Franklin Warehousing, a business he started in 1972 and grew to eleven different locations in several area towns. Before starting his own business, he worked for Star Market, First National and Encinal Terminals.
Active in youth sports, Mr. Joannides was a Franklin Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball Coach and helped start the Franklin youth football program in the mid 1960’s. He was a member of the Franklin Rotary Club, the Franklin Lions Club, the Franklin Chamber of Commerce and the Franklin Gridiron Club. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and brother and was a friend to many.
Besides his wife, he is survived by; three sons, George B. and his wife, Janet of Franklin, Philip B. and his wife, Jimi of Orlando, FL and Lucas A. and his wife, Cheryl of Wrentham and a daughter, Leslie A.E. Joannides-Burgos and her husband, Wigberto Burgos of Franklin. He was the father of the late Kathleen Joannides-Clark.
He is also survived by; a brother, Anthony of Sacramento, CA, a sister, Dorothy Ross of Alfred, ME, his grandchildren, Jennifer, Jessica, Jacob and Joshua Joannides, Nicole and Alexandra Clark and Cesar and Nicholas Burgos and numerous nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral service on Thursday, March 1 at 10 a.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 237 Pleasant St. in Franklin. Burial will take place at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne on Thursday at 3 p.m.
Calling hours will be held on Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. in the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin (www.ginleyfuneralhomes.com), 131 Main St. in Franklin.
Memorial donations may be made in Mr. Joannides’ memory to the Alzheimer’s Assoc., 331 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA 02472.