Charles P. Sarantos
Proud veteran of WWII;
Charles P. Sarantos, beloved husband of the late Iris L. Sarantos, passed away peacefully at his home at Edgewood Retirement Community in North Andover on the first day of October, 2018, surrounded by his loving family and compassionate caretakers.
Charles, 92 years old, was born in Lowell, MA on October 2, 1925 and was the beloved son of the late Peter and Mary (Gickas) Sarantos.
He was a graduate of the Greater Lowell Vocational Technical School, after which he enlisted in the United States Army in December of 1943 where proudly and honorably he served in France and Germany in the 112th Allied Airborne Signal Battalion setting up critical communication networks in the European Theater of Operations.
While proud of his Greek heritage, Charles was also an ardent American patriot, and always expressed deep affection for his fellow veterans and current service members. He often voiced his feelings of admiration and his sense of pride when observing the subsequent generations of young men and women who volunteered for military service. Upon his honorable discharge from service in April, 1946, he attended Michigan State University and Lowell Technological Institute, where he studied electrical engineering.
In 1969, together with his beloved wife Iris, with whom he shared 55 devoted and fulfilling years of marriage, Charles established C & I Electrical Supply Co., Inc., a successful commercial and industrial wholesale electrical supply business in Lowell. They dedicated themselves to the operation of their family business together with their son, Constantine (Dino) P. Sarantos until its sale in 2004. The business brought Charles and his family opportunities to forge valued friendships, professional associations, and countless philanthropic community relationships. He took particular interest in supporting the Greater Lowell Vocational Technical School and in offering guidance and opportunities to young and new electricians in their efforts to establish their own businesses.
Charles was a lifelong member of the Holy Trinity and Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Churches of Lowell and a supporter and member of the AHEPA, Greek American Legion, and other Greek social and cultural organizations, as well as a long-standing member of the Freemasons. He served as a director of the Enterprise Bank and Trust of Lowell from February, 1991 to May, 2007, and continued to serve as an honorary director. Philanthropists at heart, Charles and Iris were active and broad supporters of the Greek Orthodox Community and the greater Lowell and New England charitable communities of hospital, health care, youth-focused and scholastic, elder care, and performing arts organizations.
Charles’ devotion to his family was the primary focus of his life. He also loved sharing in family celebrations, weekends with Iris, and their children and grandchildren at their beach home, attending New England Patriots games as a season ticket holder of twenty-five years together with his son, Dino, and spending time with friends.
Charles was a kind, generous, and unconditionally loving husband, father, and grandfather with a happy, contented and grateful disposition. He is survived by his son, Constantine (Dino) P. Sarantos and his wife, Elizabeth, of Andover, daughter Anastasia Sarantos Taskin and her husband, Cengiz, of Seacaucus, New Jersey, and his grandchildren, Alyssa M. Sarantos and Christopher D. Sarantos of Andover, all of whom respect and adore him. His loss is profound to those who love him, but his life lessons will endure.
He is also survived by a brother, George P. Sarantos of Billerica, and sisters, Despina Dinopoulos and Nora Vlahakis, both of Dracut, and Elizabeth Lemondes of Syracuse, New York, as well as sisters-in-law Olga C. Laganas of Lowell and Patricia Dukakis of South Natick, and Nicki Sarantos of Florida, and many loved godchildren, loyal friends, nieces and nephews.
Charles is predeceased by his brothers Theodore Sarantos and Rev. John Sarantos, and sister Christine Economou, sisters-in-law Helen George, Mary Laganas, Toula Laganas, Theda Triantafel, Constantina Sarantos, and brothers-in-law, Nicholas Vlahakis, Charles Dinopoulos, Stephen Economou, James Lemondes, George S. George, George Triantafel, and Arthur Dukakis.
The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to the respectful and compassionate staff of the entire Edgewood community.
Family and friends may call at the HELLENIC ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY Friday morning from 9:30 to 11:00 A.M. followed by his Funeral Service at the Church at 11 o’clock. Burial in the Westlawn Cemetery. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Metropolis of Boston Camp, 329 Camp Merrimac Rd., Contoocook, NH 03229. Arrangements by the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME – Lowell (978) 458-8768.
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