SPIRO C. MANOLAS

MANOLAS Spiro Constantinos Manolas Of Mount Vernon, VA passed away peacefully with his loving family at his bedside on December 23, 2014. Born on November 7 1926 in the Bronx, New York to the late Constantinos Spiro and Stavroula (Houssea) Manolas. His family later moved to Cambridge, MA. Spiro enlisted into the US Army, serving in the S Pacific during WW II. He then attended Norwich University, being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant Class of 1949. He again served the USA in the Post WW II European Theater. He continued his education, earning his M.A. and Ph.D in Near Eastern History at Boston University by 1960. He was a graduate of The National Defense University/U.S. National War College, Washington, DC and also completed further studies at Oxford University, England. He spent his career with the Department of Defense including service for the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon. He married Carol Myrta Fisher in Boston, MA on September 4, 1949. Surviving along with his wife of 65 years are two children, Constantine (Costa) Manolas and wife, Kathleen and Stavroula (Manolas) Alachnowicz and husband, John, both of Mount Vernon; three grandchildren, Spiro and James Manolas and Jaclyn Katherine Alachnowicz. He was blessed with extended grandchildren, Wendy (Alachnowicz) and husband, Mark Mueller and J David Alachnowicz and wife, Rachel, whose children were cherished as great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two sisters, Hariklia Johnston, Vista, CA and Ellen Leotsakos, Cambridge, MA; as well as multiple nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Anastasia Manolas. Family and friends are invited to call at Demaine Funeral Home, 520 S. Washington St., Alexandria, VA on Monday, December 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at 11 a.m. at Saint Katherine's Greek Orthodox Church, 3149 Glen Carlyn Road, Bailey's Crossroads, VA. There will be an Interment at a later date in Irvington, VA. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Saint Katherine's Greek Orthodox Church (address above) or INOVA Mt. Vernon Nursing Development Fund 505, 8110 Gatehouse Rd., Suite 200E, Falls Church, VA 22042.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Saint Katherine's Greek Orthodox Church (address above) or INOVA Mt. Vernon Nursing Development Fund 505, 8110 Gatehouse Rd., Suite 200E, Falls Church, VA 22042.