Lazarus Alexion, 91, of Winchester, formerly of Fairhaven and Mattapoisett, died September 5, 2011.
Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Mark and Vasiliki Alexion, his family moved to Fairhaven in 1922. His father operated Bristol Fruit Company and Oriental Tea and Coffee House in New Bedford. He attended school in Fairhaven, graduating from Fairhaven High School in 1937. He continued his education at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, the New England Conservatory of Music, and Kinyon Business School in New Bedford.
Mr. Alexion joined the U.S. Army in 1943, served stateside briefly, and then overseas in Africa, Italy, France and Germany with the 439th Anti-Aircraft Battalion attached to the 5th and 7th Armies. Following his discharge in 1945, he operated the family's Oriental Tea and Coffee House and married Angela Yankopolus in 1946.
Upon the sale of the family business in 1948, the County Street Launderette in New Bedford was established and operated until 1953. The Alexion Insurance Agency was then formed and maintained offices in Fairhaven and New Bedford until its sale to the Walter Hughes Agency in 1983 and Mr. Alexion's retirement at that time.
Among a wide range of civic, religious and business activities, he was a member of the New Bedford Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) and the Fairhaven Rotary Club. He was a Past President of the Fairhaven Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Parish Council of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in New Bedford, the Fairhaven Improvement Association, and the Greater New Bedford Insurance Agents. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Fairhaven Savings Bank and the New Bedford YMCA and the Advisory Council to the Travelers Insurance Company. He had been the Chairman of Precinct One Fairhaven Town Meeting.
In 1975, Mr. Alexion moved from Fairhaven to Mattapoisett and following retirement in 1983 he and his wife became winter residents of Island Park Village in Fort Myers, Florida. In 1989, they built their home in Whiskey Creek in Fort Myers and became active parishioners at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church.
Widowed at the death of his wife Angelica in September 2002, he is survived by his two daughters, Regina Cokkinias of Winchester, and Joan Lorenz of Old Bridge, NJ, and his grandchildren, Casey Cokkinias and Kimberly and Lucas Lorenz.
He was the brother of the late Alexander Alexion.
His Funeral Service will be held on Thursday at 11 AM in St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Dartmouth. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Fairhaven. Visitation will be at the Church on Thursday morning from 10-11 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to St. George Greek Orthodox Building Fund, P.O. Box 79411, Dartmouth, MA 02747. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.