John Chrysochoos

1934 - 2016

(NEWS ARTICLE) John Chrysochoos, who as a University of Toledo chemistry professor was respected for his teaching and research and who in retirement was a prolific author - with books of fiction, nonfiction, and autobiography - died Sunday in his West Toledo home. He was 82.

He likely had a heart attack, his son Mike said. His death was unexpected. Earlier in the day, he went for a walk through the neighborhood and picked vegetables from his garden. He regularly visited - and worked in - his UT office. He retired in 2004.

"One of his passions when he left academia was to write outside the realm of technical papers and abstracts," son Mike said. "It's something he always wanted to do."

Mr. Chrysochoos' first book, Beyond the Blue Ikarian Sea, tells of growing up on the Greek island of Ikaria, his youth interrupted by the German and Italian occupation during World War II. His family was rescued by the British and relocated as refugees to Palestine, then under British control.

That experience "gave him a lot of insight and empathy to what was going on in the world," his son said. "He was a proud American, but understood a lot of the rest of the world."

Back on Ikaria after the war, he completed his schooling. A placement exam confirmed his affinity for math and science. He went to the University of Athens, from which he received a diploma of chemistry.

After a two-year hitch in the Greek Navy, Mr. Chrysochoos left for North America. He received master's and doctoral degrees from from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Post-doctoral studies took him to Harvard University and Chicago.

He came to the UT in 1967. During his tenure, he was interim chairman; chairman of undergraduate advising, and director of graduate studies.

"We grew up with graduate students and research students coming over to dinner," son Mike said.

He'd also been a member of the college of arts and sciences council.

"He was a valued teacher," said A. Alan Pinkerton, a former department chairman and a distinguished university professor emeritus. His research, especially in the earlier part of his career, was valued as well, Mr. Pinkerton said.

His background was in physical chemistry and spectroscopy, Mr. Pinkerton said, but still he taught introductory chemistry.

"John was I think you would call a gentleman," Mr. Pinkerton. "Many ways old school, you would say."

UT became his community, and he was a devoted fan of the women's basketball team. After his first book, Mr. Chrysochoos wrote a novel, published in 2009, which told the challenges of a young science teacher in an urban school. He also wrote volumes about the history of his home island, the challenges of growing old, and reason and objective judgment.

He returned to his home island every few years and took his children several times.

"He showed us where his house was and where he played. It's amazing the stuff he did," son Constantine said.

Surviving are his wife, Alexandra, whom he married May 17, 1964; sons, Michael and Constantine; daughter, Irene Chrysochoos; brother, Mitsos; sister, Zoe Scaros, and five grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. Thursday in the Ansberg-West Funeral Home, with Trisagion services at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, where he was a member.

The family suggests tributes to the cathedral.

Contact Mark Zaborney at: mzaborney@theblade.com or 419-724-6182.