Elaine Allen Kontes

ELAINE ALLEN KONTES the loving and devoted mother of Christopher and Alex and wife of Peter Kontes, died peacefully after a long illness. She had been a Greenwich resident since 1988. Elaine Kontes was born in Chicago Illinois on May 21, 1950, the daughter of Theodore and Elsie Allen. She attended schools in Chicago and Oak Lawn, Illinois, graduating from Oak Lawn High School in 1968. She earned a degree in computer programming and started her career with IBM and Zayre Corp. before moving to San Francisco to join United Airlines where she became an airport supervisor at the Oakland, San Jose, and San Francisco airports. While living in San Francisco she met and married Peter Kontes in 1982. Following a move to Redding, Connecticut in 1984, she was admitted to Yale University and earned her BA degree in psychobiology in 1988. During her early years in Greenwich she was active in the American Farm School, Greenwich Women's Club, the Junior League, and Meals on Wheels. Following the birth of Christopher in 1994 she became a full time mom, was an active parent with the Whitby and Parkway Schools, and successfully pursued the goal of adopting a second son, Alex, from Russia in 2005. Elaine's passions were her family, her friends, the protection of animals, Greek cooking, travel, and scientific subjects of all kinds. She was also a proud member of the Greek Orthodox Church. In addition to her husband and sons, Elaine is survived by her mother Elsie and her sister Jayne Dueworth both of Hickory Hills, Illinois, her sister Cynthia and brother-in-law David Schenk of Morango, Illinois, her brother-in-law Bill Kontes and sister-in-law Iris, of Hobe Sound, Florida, her nieces Kristen and Loren Dueworth, Elaine Schenk, Alexa and Zoe Kontes, and Laura Ames, and her nephews William Kontes and Ted Schenk. An extraordinary mother, wife, and great friend to all who knew her, Elaine will be greatly missed. Calling hours will be held on Monday April 14, 2008 from 5-8PM at the Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home 2900 Summer St. Stamford, CT. A service will be held on Tuesday April 15, 2008 10:00AM at the Church of the Archangels 1527 Bedford Street Stamford, CT. Interment will be held at Putnam Cemetery, Greenwich, CT. In Lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the North Shore Animal League America 25 Davis Avenue Port Washington, NY 11050.