Vasilis Lavrakas

Kerrville Vasilis quotBabequot Lavrakas died at the age of 92 on Dec.19th in Kerrville, Texas of heart failure. Born in July 1917 to Greek immigrants Fotini and Apostolou Lavrakas in Watertown, Mass., the exact day of his birth is clouded by the Greek Orthodox Churchs use of the Julian calendar.

As a replacement officer during the Invasion of Normandy, he was an assistant leader of an antiaircraft platoon. He was injured in Herzogenrath, Germany in December 1944 when the truck he was riding in hit a landmine. Hospitalized in England, he spent the remainder of the war as a letter censor. He received the Purple Heart and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant.

He married Joanna Thanos on Feb. 3, 1946, to whom he was engaged during the war.

Retiring from 32.5 years as a Professor of Chemistry at Lowell Mass. Technological Institute, the couple hit the road with a fifth wheel to look for a place to retire, settling in Kerrville 25 years ago.

Among other things that marked his life, he was a Boy Scout Leader, a wood craftsman, a tree farmer, a history buff and a voracious reader.

Babe built a cabin quotThe Cottagequot in Little Tutka Bay, Alaska, where he and Ann spent 18 summers and fished avidly. He would read the Declaration each Independence Day for the tiny bays celebration of the Fourth.

Plagued with nightmares since the war, and unable to sleep through the night, Babe will now enjoy a deep rest, leaving a legacy of love of literature and poetry, classical music and opera, the outdoors, hard work, rocks, and a nice big piece of chocolate cake.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Anna Lavrakas, son and daughterinlaw Robert and Melanie Lavrakas of Kerrville, Texas son and daughterinlaw James and Ruth Lavrakas of Ketchikan, AK grandsons Gabriel and Nickolas Lavrakas of Anchorage, Alaska daughter Dimitra Lavrakas of Skagway, Alaska and grandson Alexios Lavrakas Moore of Brooklyn, New York daughter Faye Lavrakas of Sunnyvale, Calif. and granddaughter Alissa Lavrakas Wilkinson and husband, Ben, of San Mateo, Calif, and greatgrandson Jacob Wilkinson brother and sisterinlaw John and Catie Lavrakas of Bloomfield Hills, Mich. brother and sisterinlaw Eleftherios and Billye Lavrakas of Newport, Ore.


There will be no local service or remembrance.

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Voluntary Services at the Kerrville VA for Hospice Care.

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