Emmanuel Yiannakakis Passes Away
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Author: Amalia Yiannakakis
Released 29 February 2008
Al Yiannakakis - 80th Birthday
At a great loss to our family, our father, Emmanuel (Manoli) Yiannakakis passed away on Thursday, February 28, 2008. His battle with emphysema is over and he is at peace.
He is survived by his loving wife, Vasiliki (Billie), and children, Amalia, Constantine, John, and Alexander, and grandson, Manoli.
He was born on the island of Crete, Greece in 1927. Manoli was brought up in Athens during WWII and came to the US for higher education receiving a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia.
While attending the University he met his wife, Billie, after seeing her in a Greek church in southern Illinois.
In 1957, he accepted a job with the Arabian American Oil Company in Saudi Arabia where he moved his family. They spent the next 27 years in a home on the Persian Gulf.
Saudi Arabia was a lovely place to raise his family, and he had a long and successful career.
Manoli was passionate about sailing, financial matters, politics, bridge, and food. He was a devoted father and husband who loved the affection of his wife and children and was proud of the family’s accomplishments and Greek heritage.
A viewing will be on Sunday, March 2, from 6 to 8 pm along with the Trisagion (Blessing) at 7 pm.
The funeral will be held on Monday at 10 am.
Both services will take place at the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church on 1145 E. Fort Lowell, Tucson, Arizona 85719.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church New Building Fund in his memory.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to Adair Funeral Home-Avalon Chapel.
He was an extraordinary individual who grew up in Greece during World War II. He managed to get his engineering degree in the US after the war where he met my mother whose family had recently immigrated . He had a long and successful career with Saudi Aramco where he was able to enjoy his passion for sailing.
When he retired he divided his time between Greece and America. He was a devoted father and husband and will be missed by all of us.