John Tchakirides

WATERBURY- John 'Pete' Tchakirides died Thursday, January 19, 2012 after a short illness. He was born in Waterbury, CT on September 12 1930 son of the late Ernest H. and Myrtle Ivy (Kelsey) Tchakirides.

He was a long time college professor and newspaper man, a former member of Sports Writer's Alliance and a communicant of St. John's Episcopal Church, Waterbury, CT. He graduated from Crosby High School in Waterbury in 1948, served in the U.S. Air Force, January 1951 to January 1955 as a radar systems mechanic in a B-36 squadron during the Korean conflict. He received a B.A. in English in 1958 and over the next nine years, earned an M.A. and Ph.D from Yale University. He worked at the Waterbury-Republican as sports writer, reporter, editorial writer and copy editor. He taught college English at S.C.S.U. for 21 years retiring as associate professor Emeritus in 1989. He retired from the Hartford Courant in 1995 after 20 years full and part-time work.

He was predeceased by brothers Harry, William, Theodore and Irving and by sisters Helen (Karaban) and Effie. He is survived by brothers James O. and wife Eileen of Huntington, CT and Nelson F. and wife Barbara of Seymour, CT and several nieces and nephews.

Arrangments- Calling hours will be held at the Alderson Funeral Home of Waterbury, 9 Holmes Ave, 06710 on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 from 4-7 P.M. Funeral services will be 9:15 A.M from the funeral home to St. John's Episcopal Church, 12 Church St., Waterbury on Wednesday January 25 at 10:00 A.M. Burial will follow at Old Pine Grove Cemetery, Meriden Rd., Waterbury, CT. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Yale University General Alumni Fund, St. John's Episcopal Church Memorial Fund or Middlewoods of Newington (attn. Pete Tchakirides Scholarship Fund).