Gabriel Koukkos

Gabriel Koukkos, beloved father, father-in-law, papou, brother, uncle and friend, passed away on August 15, 2025 at the age of 94 years, 6 months and 13 days. He is survived by his three children: Zoe Fogarty and her husband Mike of Byfield, MA; Christina Koukkos of Brooklyn, NY; and George Koukkos of Westwood, MA; and also by their mother, Fran Karalli of Haverhill, MA. He is also survived by four beloved grandchildren: Griffin, Justin, Carson and Taylor; his older sister, Eleni; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Gabriel Koukkos was born in 1931 in the village of Skala Eresos on the island of Lesvos, Greece, the third of four children to Emmanuel and Zoiro Koukkos. He and his late brother Aristo, sister Eleni, and late sister Sapphoula grew up working on his family’s sheep and tobacco farm. At the time, village homes had no heat, electricity or indoor toilet; he distinctly remembers when electricity was installed in the village.

After completing his Greek military service, Gabe decided to move to the US to make his way in the world. He applied and was accepted to the electrical engineering program at New York University, which he chose because it offered intensive support for immigrant-scholars. In 1956, three weeks after his 25th birthday, he sailed to New York City aboard the Queen Frederica with $200 in his pocket.

During his studies he lived with his uncle Jack, aunt Eleni and cousin Hope in Hempstead on Long Island in New York. He is eternally grateful for the sacrifices they made - especially Hope, who gave up her bedroom and slept in the kitchen so Gabe would have a quiet place to study. Every day he would take two buses and a subway, two hours each way, to the NYU campus. His aunt would always have a warm plate of food waiting for him when he got home.

A few years after graduating, Gabriel married Fran, also a Greek immigrant, with whom he had three children. They eventually settled in Massachusetts, where they lived when Gabe became a US citizen in 1968. His children remember him as a hard worker who took seriously the idea of providing for his family.

Gabriel had a 25-year career as an electrical engineer for Raytheon Technologies, traveling all across the USA, including Alaska and Hawaii, to plan and oversee the installation of satellite communications technologies. After retiring from Raytheon, Gabe moved to Uxbridge in western Massachusetts, where he worked with and supported his nephew Peter in his pizza business. During this time Gabe began a second career as a real estate agent, which suited his attention to detail and gregarious personality. He particularly enjoyed mentoring first-time homebuyers.

He retired again in the early 2000s and moved to Newburyport to be closer to his grandchildren. He traveled every summer to his birthplace in Greece, spending time with his family and reconnecting with childhood friends. He savored his special Aegean paradise while sitting on his balcony, breathing in the salty air, listening to the music from a nearby cafe, and taking in the iconic view of the rock island that locals call the “Nici.”

Gabe loved good food, especially seafood and other Greek specialties his sister and sister-in-law (both named Eleni; Elenis come by the dozen in the Koukkos family) cooked for him. In the US, he particularly enjoyed coffee and a muffin in the morning, and eggrolls from Kowloon in Saugus.

He will be missed by all who knew him.

Relatives and friends are invited to visiting hours on Thursday, August 21, 2025 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Elliott, Woodworth & Rogers Funeral Home at 35 Green St. in Newburyport. His funeral will be held on Friday at noon at The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church at 7 Harris St. in Newburyport. 

Wherever you are, please join us in raising a glass to Gabriel at sunset on Friday, August 22 - at 7:34 pm EDT.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to his church (https://annunciation.ma.goarch.org/) or to Care Dimensions, the hospice service that supported Gabe and his family in his final days (https://www.caredimensions.org/support-our-mission/).