Constantine G. Callas

CALLAS
Constantine G. (Gus) from Boca Raton Florida, passed away peacefully on February 23, 2013. Constantine, also known as Dino, was born on December 5, 1922, in Jersey City NJ to George and Bessie Callas. He was the devoted husband for 61 years of his beloved wife Kathryn who predeceased him. He is also predeceased by his brother Peter. He is survived by four beautiful and loving children, Dr. Yvonne Callas, William Dean Callas, George Dean Callas, Penny Denise Callas, and seven beloved grandchildren- Dean Callas, Nicholas Callas, Andreas Callas, William Derrenberger, Katherine Derrenberger, Christina Callas, and Ava Callas. Constantine is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
In 1932 his family departed for Greece where he attended public school and Athens College for four years. Upon returning to the US, he graduated from Lincoln High School and attended NYU for two years until he was drafted into the US Army Air Force. He served in the New Guinea Campaign in the South Pacific, where he was awarded a Good Conduct Medal, the Asia Pacific Medal, and a Combat Star. After an honorable discharge he continued his business education at NYU night school, graduating in 1948 from the School of Commerce, Accounts and Finance, while simultaneously working at Excellent Coffee company, which he co-founded with his father and brother in 1948.
Constantine was a man of faith and was a founding member of St. Demetrious Greek Orthodox Church in Jersey City NJ, where he served on the Board of Trustees for eleven years. After moving his family to Cresskill, where he was a life long resident, he became a member of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. John's in Tenafly NJ.
He was a life member and past president of the Bergen Knights of Columbus Chapter #285 Order of the Ahepa, and in 1965 was elected District Governor. In 1952 he became a Mason and was a life member of Euclid Lodge #136 Free and Accepted Masons. He was a life member of the Scottish Rite Supreme Council of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction and also a member of the Salaam Shriners of Livingston NJ.
Always a progressive thinker, together with his brother he orchestrated a merger of their Excellent Coffee Company with four other coffee companies, forming Coffee Associates, Inc., the largest regional Greek owned coffee company of that era. He served as the company's president and CEO until his retirement in 1991. During his retirement he enjoyed traveling the world with his wife Kathryn, his summers at their home in Wainscott Long Island, and spending time with his children and grandchildren, whom he adored. He will be missed but his spirit will endure in the hearts of those whose lives he touched.
Relatives and friends will be received at the Barrett Funeral Home, 148 Dean Drive, Tenafly NJ on Tuesday, February 26th 6-9 PM, Wednesday, February 27th 2-4 PM and 7-9 PM. Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, February 28th at 10 AM at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. John the Theologian, Tenafly NJ. Interment at George Washington Memorial Park Paramus NJ.
Constantine's wishes were in lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Rockwell Center Suites, c/o Boca Raton Regional Hospital, 800 Meadows Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33486 or Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, PO Box 27105, NY, NY 10017-2504.
For directions visit www.barrettfuneralhome.net.