Bridgewater, NH – Lt. Col. John P. Zareas, 81, of Bridgewater, NH and St. Petersburg, Fla, died Saturday, September 3, 2011 at Lakes Region General Hospital in Laconia, NH.
He was born on January 23, 1930 in Peabody, Mass., the son of Peter and Demetria (Galaris) Zareas. John served in the US Air Force for 24 years, retiring as Lieutenant Colonel in 1970. He then embarked on a second career as a restaurateur and innkeeper at the Wagon Wheel Inn on Newfound Lake in Bridgewater, NH. He has been recognized by the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame and by George W. Bush White House at a tee-ball game on the white house lawn as the founder of tee-ball.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy (Peicott) Zareas of Bridgewater, NH and St. Petersburg, Fla., two sons; Peter Zareas of St. Petersburg, Fla. and Paul Zareas of Tampa, Fla. and Bridgewater, NH., two daughters; Arlean O’Keefe of Hillsboro Beach, Fla., Bridgewater, NH. and Hampton, NH. and Patricia Hough of Lakeport, NH., 4 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.
There will be no calling hours.
Graveside services with military honors will be held at 12 Noon on Thursday, September 8, 2011 at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Highway, Route 3, Boscawen, NH.
For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to Lakes Region General Hospital Eldercare Unit, 80 Highland Street, Laconia, NH 03246.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com .