ASTORIA – Former board member of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York John Goros passed away on Saturday, December 21, at the age of 63.

The wake will be held on Monday, December 23 at Farenga Funeral Home, 38-08 Ditmars Boulevard in Astoria, from 3-8 PM.

Originally from Heimarra, Goros was very involved in the national issues and fought for the rights of the Greek ethnic minority in the Northern Epirus. He served on the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York as a member of the Board of Directors, while also serving as Head of the Stathakion Cultural Center.

“John was an educated man. He was a graduate of the Air Force Military School and was, first of all, a Greek. He loved his country like no other, and it was always inside of him. Here he worked in various jobs to cope. His father was here first, who later returned to Epirus and died there,” said the former vice president of Federation, Panagiotis Michaleas, who was a friend of the late Goros.

“He was an excellent person. I am 82 years old and for me John was like one of my older children. I was very sorry, I did not expect that he would leave so young,” said Michaleas.

Federation President Cleanthis Meimaroglou also expressed his sadness over the death of John Goros.

“John Goros was a member of the Board of Directors in the past, and contributed to the Greek community, we are sorry for the death of this man, he was a member of the community who worked hard here in America,” said Meimaroglou.

Former president Petros Galatoulas pointed out that the deceased “was a man who contributed his help to the federation.”

John Goros is survived by his daughter, Eleni Goros, and his sister, Nina Cozzoli