Roosevelt Nicholas Larigakis

ROOSEVELT NICHOLAS LARIGAKISRoosevelt Nicholas Larigakis, of Delran, New Jersey, passed away on November 8, 2012. He was 88. Roosevelt was the beloved husband of 55 years to Kiki Larigakis; devoted father of two sons, Nick of Alexandria, Virginia; and Constantine of Delran, New Jersey; and devoted grandfather of Panayiota. He is pre-deceased by his parents Nicholas and Elizabeth Larigakis.Roosevelt was born on the island of Skopelos, Greece and was always very proud that he was named after a U.S. president, Teddy Roosevelt. He endured the German wartime occupation of Greece and eventually immigrated to the United States in 1947. For the next 15 years, he lived in New York, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia where he worked as a cook. For a time, he also worked on board a Mississippi River tug boat. Since 1962, Roosevelt was mostly a resident of New Jersey (Wrightstown, Bordentown, and Delran) except for a few times when he went back to Greece, which he loved so much, for a few years at a time. He continued to work in the food industry, including 10 years as a cook at the Officers Club of McGuire AFB. Never having completed more than a six-year elementary education, Roosevelt endured much hardship throughout his life trying to provide for his family. However, his family takes solace that he was at rest during the last 20 years in retirement. Nonetheless, his life’s only goal was to provide for his family and his two sons and to ensure they had an education and a better life. In this regard, Roosevelt’s ultimate pride and enjoy was his family, especially his two sons Nick and Constantine.Although Roosevelt lived in the United States for almost 60 years, he never lost the love for his motherland and of his hometown, Glossa, on the Island of Skopelos. It was there that he felt most at ease and enjoyed more than any other. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday November 13, 2012 at St. George Greek Orthodox Church 1200 Klockner Rd. in Hamilton. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Hamilton. Calling hours will be Monday evening from 6 ? 8 P.M. at the M. William Murphy Funeral Home 1863 Hamilton Ave., Hamilton. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial contribution in his name be sent to the, American Hellenic Institute, 1220 16th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036