Socrates John Zavitsanos

SOCRATES JOHN ZAVITSANOS, 86 years old, passed away peacefully after a two year struggle with congestive heart failure. He was born in the village of Poros on the island of Lefkada, Greece on March 30, 1923. Educated and trained as an expert tailor in the English style, his fondest memories were his apprenticeship as a young man in the city of Patras, Greece to become a custom tailor. Following completion of his training, he opened tailor shops in various locations on the island of Lefkada. Socrates married Tasoula Thiakos on October 18, 1959. In 1965, he came to the United States hoping to realize the American dream for himself and his family. He worked for six years and then in 1969, he brought his wife and two children from Greece to join him in Chicago. After much hard work and struggle, he opened the Indian Hill Custom Tailor Shop in the exclusive suburb of Winnetka, Illinois. His customers included U.S. Senators, heads of Fortune 500 companies, and prominent local business leaders. It was there that he enjoyed serving his many loyal customers for over 25 years until his retirement when he moved to Houston to be close to his son and grandchildren. Socrates earned many achievements for his expertise, including 3 U.S. patents on his clothing designs. Socrates was the inventor of the women's tuxedo, which was a stylistic sensation in the late 70's. He also received many commendations from dignitaries in both Greece and the United States. Besides his passion for sewing, Socrates had a love of poetry and music, and wrote many poems throughout his life. He was proud to be related to the great poet, Aristotle Valeoritis, the national poet of Greece. He also loved Greek dancing and playing the harmonica for his grandchildren. Socrates is preceded in death by his daughter, Vissaria Zavitsanos, mother, Eleni Konidaris Zavitsanos, father, Ioannis Zavitsanos, sister Theodora Vlahos, brothers Dimitrios (Mitso) Zavitsanos, Alexandros (Alekos) Zavitsanos, and Andreas Zavitsanos. He is survived by his wife Tasoula (Thiakos) Zavitsanos, son John Zavitsanos (wife Joni), daughter Eleni Zavitsanos, brother Christos Zavitsanos, and grandchildren Anastasia, Socratis, Diamantis, and Irene Zavitsanos. The family will receive friends for a visitation from four until eight o'clock in the evening with a Trisagion Service at half past six o'clock on Thursday, August 13, 2009 at the Bradshaw-Carter Home, 1734 West Alabama Street, Houston, Texas 77098. The funeral service will be held on Friday, August 14, 2009 at ten o'clock in the morning at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 3511 Yoakum Blvd. Burial will follow at Forest Park Westheimer, 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77077. Please direct any charitable gifts to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 3511 Yoakum Blvd., Houston, Texas 77006. Online tributes may be posted at www.bradshawcarter.com. "For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39).