Blaise C. Bookis

Blaise C. Bookis
May 28, 1935–December 9, 2025
Blaise Charles Bookis, of Southbury, CT, passed away on the evening of December 9, 2025. He was the devoted husband of the (late) Judith M. (Priestley) Bookis. Born in Athens Greece, he was the son of Mary (O'Boyle) Bookis and Charles V. Bookis. He is predeceased by his older brothers, Gregory Bookis and John Bookis, and his adored twin sister, Suzanne (Bookis) McGinty.
He is survived by his three children and their spouses: Mary-Louise (Bookis) Bond and husband Frederick Bond, Eleni (Bookis) Krehel and husband Gregg Krehel, and John W. Bookis and wife Deborah Bookis; eight grandchildren: Anne Hofmeister, Meghan (Bond) Bradley, Paul Hofmeister, Abby (Bond) Lew, Blaise Bookis, Erin Bond-Huber, Alexandra Bookis and Aidan Bond; four great-grandchildren: Adrian Bond Bradley, Jack Alexander Bookis, Ada Maeve Hofmeister, and Cameron Alan Lew; his sister-in-law Joyce Bravos; as well as cherished nieces and nephews.
Blaise grew up in Athens, Greece, during WWII. At age ten, his family came to the United States on a Liberty ship and settled in Maspeth, Queens, where he graduated from Grover Cleveland High School. He attended CUNY Queens College where he met Judith, and they were married in November of 1958. He worked for a short time in Greek shipping before becoming a buyer for JC Penny. He then taught Social Studies for 25 years at Wagner Junior High School on the upper east side of Manhattan. He coached boys' soccer while at Wagner and continued coaching after retiring from teaching in Fort Lee, NJ and at St. Joseph's in Montvale, NJ.
Blaise loved to tend his lawn and vegetable gardens, and he liked to paint. He was a devoted NY Mets fan. Blaise was an avid surf-cast striped bass fisherman, and the family spent many vacations camping by the seashore in Plymouth, Cape Cod and Montauk, NY. He was a proud member of the Striper Surf Club.
Blaise and Judith raised their own family in Forest Hills, Queens and Hohokus, NJ, before moving, as grandparents, first to Bronxville, NY, and then to Southbury, CT. He was tickled to coach three of his grandchildren in his beloved soccer and took pride in attending as many of their local, travel team, high school and college games as possible.
Blaise treasured his Greek roots. He returned often to visit family in Athens, first with Judy and their three children, and later with his eight grandchildren. Many special memories were made when Pappou hosted three generations at Vouliagmeni, Skiathos, Lindos, Rhodes, Crete, Santorini and Corfu.
In November 2018, Blaise and Judith moved into the vibrant Senior Living Community of Pomperaug Woods. The Bookis family appreciates the wonderful support Blaise enjoyed when he transitioned to Memory Care and is very grateful for the loving care he received while living in the Health Center for two and a half years. The nurses and aides from Athena Hospice afforded him peace in his last few days.
A private burial will take place at North Cemetery in Woodbury, CT.
A memorial celebration will be held at a future date for family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor may be made to the
Alzheimer's Foundation.