Konstantinos Draga (Draganigos), originally from Kerkyra, passed away on July 3 at the age of 88. The deceased immigrated in the 1940s to New York, like many Greeks, with only a few dollars in his pocket. But with constant work and perseverance, he excelled in the restaurant business. He never forgot his homeland to which he contributed a great deal, and did not leave without assistance young Greeks who immigrated to the United States.

The Pankerkyraikos Association of America, in a special event, honored Konstantinos and Kalliope Draganigos (Draga) in November 2017.

“Half of the Greek community passed through his restaurant (Silver Star), which was an example and the first one open 24 hours a day in America,” said then-honorary president of the Pankerkyraikos Association Nicholas Bardis.

“This man started out of Kerkyra without shoes, slept in Athens in a ‘chicken coop,’ but in him, he had something deeply ingrained: the faith of Saint Spyridon, whom one night he saw in his sleep telling him to leave the next day. He came here, never forgetting his homeland and always helping his village, and by his side stands Mrs. Kalliope Draga, a dynamic woman and together they raised a wonderful family, two daughters who became doctors with their own practice. What more could this man give?” said Bardis.

The Pankerkyraikos Association President Theodore Doukakis, also spoke, referring to Draganigos’ legacy to the next generations.

“I want to thank you for this work that you have started. What you have done for us, the younger generation. I want to thank you very much, because people like you, and the family you have, are a rare phenomenon,” said Doukakis.

The visitation will be held on Friday, July 6 at 2-5 PM and 7-9 PM at the Frederick Funeral Home, 192-15 Northern Blvd., Flushing, NY 11358, Phone: 718-357-6100. The funeral service will be held at the Holy Cross Church, 11-05 150 Street, Whitestone, NY 11357, on Saturday, July 7 at 10 AM.

He is survived by his wife, Kalliope Draga, his children, Dr. Aspasia Draga and Pavlos Georgoudis, Dr. Irene Draga and Dr. George Raptis, his grandchildren, Konstantinos, Kalliope, Fotini Georgoudis, and Ioanna, Konstantina, Kalliope, Spyridoula Raptis, his brothers, Gerasimos and Aikaterini Draganigos, Theodora Paktitis, Eleftheria Kaveleris, Maria Kaloudis. Also, the nephews, cousins, godchildren, and other relatives and friends in the United States and Greece.

The family asks in lieu of flowers donation in his memory be sent to:

1) Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church: 11-05 150 Street, Whitestone, New York 11357, 718-767-2955

2) The Tiegerman School for Language Development Main Administration Building: 100 Glen Cove Ave., Glen Cove, NY 11542, [email protected]

3) Greek Orthodox Archdiocese c/o Camp Saint Paul Scholarship Fund: 8 East 79 Street NY, NY 10075.