PAXTON-Leonidas M. Vestarhis, 87 of Paxton, formerly of Plymouth died Tuesday, September 23rd at home. His wife, Bessie (Fotiades) Vestarhis died in 2000. He leaves a son, Michael Vestarhis of Paxton; 2 daughters, Maria Tsoutsis of Worcester and Mina Zecker of Newbury; 2 sisters, Mary Konstantinou of Athens, Greece and Eva Dougias of Pireaus, Greece; 4 grandchildren, Danielle M. Zecker and Benjamen M. Zecker both of Newbury and Chrysanthe Tsoutsis and Vasilios Tsoutsis both of Worcester; many nephews and nieces of both the United States and Greece. A sister, Mina Ketonis, who lived in Athens, Greece, predeceased him.
He was born in Stenies,on the Island of Andros, in Greece, the son of Michael L. and Barbara Vestarhis and served in the Greek Navy during World War 2. Mr. Vestarhis moved to Baltimore, MD in 1946 and then to Worcester in 1953. He served on numerous ships in the U. S. Merchant Marines as a member of the N.M.U. for 30 years, retiring in 1978. After his retirement he worked for the Steamship Authority in Woods Hole and for the White Cliffs Country Club in Plymouth. He was a member of St. George’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Hyannis, and formerly a member of St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral. He enjoyed music, dancing, fishing and played soccer in Europe in the late 1930’s.
The funeral will be Saturday, September 27th from O’CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Avenue, Worcester with a service at 9:00 AM in St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 102 Russell Street, Worcester. Burial will be in Hope Cemetery, Worcester. Calling hours are Friday, September 26th from 5:00 until 8:00 PM in the funeral home. Flowers may be sent or memorial contributions may be made to UMass Memorial Hospice, 650 Lincoln Street, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605 or St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 102 Russell Street, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01609.