Constantine Andrew "Gus" POULOS

POULOS, Constantine Andrew ''Gus''
Warrior, Educator, Loving Father

Born November 21, 1926, in New Orleans, La., to Andrew and Esther Poulos, Gus was one of three children. His brother Jim was born in 1922, and the family moved to the Sacramento area in 1930, and it was in Sacramento that his sister Anna was born in 1938. Therefore Gus was one of the rare almost lifetime Californians, having lived in Sacramento continuously over 50 years. A tragic lifelong sadness for Gus and his family was his brother, Jim's death in WWII. As an Air Force enlistee his plane was shot down over France in 1944, although the crash wreckage was never recovered. Gus's Military service was with the U.S. Marines during WWII where Gus saw action on Okinawa and in China with the first Marine Division.

At the end of the war Gus's division was posted to north China, Tientsin province, from September 1945 to April 1946. Gus returned to the United States and was discharged in May of 1946. Interestingly, late in life Gus discovered the national organization of China Marines and was consequently reunited with many of his fellow surviving Marines.

Gus completed college at CSU Sacramento and worked at various San Juan Unified School District schools, primarily as an eighth grade civics teacher, and later as vice principal at Winston Churchill Junior High, the school he retired from. Gus also spent a short time after retirement working with San Juan Unified School district as a consultant.

Gus is survived by his sister Anna Pirisky Crouch, his son Christopher Poulos, his daughter Karen (Poulos) Peck and grandchildren Kassandra Poulos, Scott, Katie, Allison, and Christina Peck. Also very important in Gus's life were his niece and nephews, James, Paul, and Maryann Pratchen and their families.

Absolutely one of the highlights in Gus's long life was the nearly 20 tours to Greece he headed, visiting his parents homeland over many summers before and after retirement. Up until his death Gus maintained close ties with his family still residing in Athens, Greece, and is survived by his beloved relatives, Zoe Anderly, and Bethena Anderly-Fragos and her family.

Please know that all are welcome to Gus's military remembrance service at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 20, at Nicoletti, Culjis & Herberger Funeral Home, 5401 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento. The family also invites you to a gathering/remembrance lunch, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. at Fair Oaks Estates at 8845 Fair Oaks Blvd. in Carmichael, following the burial service.