Christos “Coach”
Pardekas, 94, of Agawam Village, Ipswich, husband of the late
Rena M. (Dukeshire), died Friday, December 2, 2016 in the
Masconomet Healthcare Center, Topsfield.
Born in Ipswich
August 25, 1922, son of the late Danis and Anastasia (Zeroulias)
Pardekas, he was raised in Ipswich, a 1941 graduate of Ipswich
High School. “Coach”, with “Cracker Bowen” started the Ipswich
Boy’s Club where he coached basket ball, football and baseball
to over three hundred youths, most of whom at the declaration
of war went on to serve their country. He worked as a cook at
the Agawam Diner and in the shellfish business with Haritas &
Amerio, later to be employed at Soffron Shellfish. During WWII
he worked at Sylvania, and at the end of the war went to work
for the next twenty years with his brother at the former Pete’s
Auto Clinic on High Street. With his brother’s failing health
and business closure he cared for him while working in
the maintenance department for the school system. Following the
death of his father, Coach took over his coffee business, Araban
of Boston, which he operated until retiring to help his wife
Rena with her ceramics business. He a and Rena loved their
German Shepherd companions.
Remembered for
his gift to socialize with all, he will be missed by his many
close friends with whom he shared cups of coffee.
He was a
longtime member of the Immanuel Baptist Church of Ipswich.
He
is survived by three grandchildren, great grandchildren and many
loving nephews and nieces. He was the father of the late David
Gauthier formerly of PA and brother of the late Peter and
William Pardekas both formerly of Ipswich and Demetra Bartlett
formerly of Manchester, NH.
His funeral
service will be held 11 am Monday, December 12, in the Immanuel
Baptist Church followed by interment in the Cowles Memorial
Cemetery, Ipswich. Family and friends are respectfully welcomed.
Visiting hours are Sunday 3 to 7 pm in the Whittier-Porter
Funeral Home, 6 High St., Ipswich. In lieu of flowers memorial
contributions in his name may be made to the Immanuel Baptist
Church, 43 Central St., Ipswich and or Ipswich Humane Group,
P.O. Box 873, Ipswich, MA 01938.
