WALTHAM, MA – John Morakis, 89, of Framingham and Waltham MA, passed away of congestive heart failure on May 15.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years Demetra ‘Debbie’ (Stavrinos) Morakis.

John was born in Cambridge, MA on June 15, 1930. He was the son of the late Anthony and Netsa (Pannani Pappaioannou) Morakis and brother to the late James ‘Juju’ Morakis and Katherine ‘Kathy’ Stamoulis Pappas.

John was a graduate of Cambridge High & Latin High School and Boston University. He served in the Army during the Korean War and began his career with W. R. Grace, followed by the Gillette Co. which included an international assignment in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. John joined Heublein in Sao Paolo, Brazil for another three years before returning to the United States in 1985.

Upon returning home John and Debbie embarked on a small business opportunity establishing John Anthony Gift shop in Concord, MA he was an active member of Concord Chamber of Commerce. 

John was a lifelong practicing member of the Greek Orthodox faith, at St. Constantine and Helen in Cambridge, MA and since 1986 at St. Demetrios in Weston, MA. At St. Demetrios he was an active member of the church, contributing unselfishly over the years to the Building Our Faith capital campaign where he was involved in all aspects of the campaign, especially the iconography program which was very dear to him. John was also a longstanding member of the St. Demetrios church choir, but more than anything, John and Debbie were known for making the holidays special at St. Ds, where they greeted generations of children as Santa and Mrs. Clause and put up a Dicken’s Village display every year. 

Johns greatest passion was his Greek heritage which he proudly passed on to his loving family. In addition to his wife he is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Katina and Bob Wolfe of Boston MA; a son and daughter-in-law, Anthony and Karen Morakis of Atlanta GA; a daughter, Cynthia Morakis Pursely and Peter Pursley Jr. (deceased) of Dallas TX , and eight grandchildren: John (Sarah) Morakis, Sarah Wolfe, Alex Wolfe, Samantha Morakis, Nicole Wolfe, Peter Pursely III, Kimberly Morakis and Demetra “Demi” Pursley.   

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a small private funeral will be held at St. Demetrios Church in Weston with burial services to follow at the Morakis Family grave at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, MA.   

John was instrumental in constructing the ’new’ St. Demetrios church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Iconography Fund of the church. Donations will be used to purchase an icon in John’s memory: www.stdemetriosweston.com.