John P. Lemnotis

FAIR HAVEN - Mr. John Peter Lemnotis, 85, died Tuesday, October 26, 2010, at Rutland Regional Medical Center in Rutland, Vt., with his family at his bedside.

John was born on April 30, 1925, in Springfield, Mass., the son of the late Peter A. and Irene (Tyrolpolis) Lemnotis. John received his education in schools in Plomari, Lesvos, Greece, and served in the United States Army and was a Veteran of the Korean War. He had a love for music and pursued that interest by attending the Julliard School of Music in New York City.

John resided in New Britain, Connecticut, from 1945 to 1971. During his residency in Connecticut, John owned and operated various restaurants, including Johnny's in New Britain, and the Circlette and Zorba's, both in West Hartford, Conn.

 In 1971, he decided to retire and relocated to Fair Haven, Vt. His "retirement" soon ended when he purchased the Fair Haven Inn. He began yet another career in the restaurant business which lasted a total of 35 years, retiring in 2006.

While living in Connecticut, John was a member of the St. George Greek Orthodox Church in New Britain, and locally a member of Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Rutland, Vt. He was an active member of several organizations and, as an avid golfer, several country clubs. Those various memberships include the Elks, Shriners, Royal Order of Jesters, Eagles, Moose, Lions, VFW, American Legion, Rutland Country Club, Proctor Pittsford Country Club, Skene Valley Country Club and the DeBary Country Club in DeBary, Fla.

John is survived by his wife, Faith (Goodrich) Lemnotis of DeBary, Fla., and Fair Haven, Vt.; his sons, Peter Lemnotis and his wife, Joan, of Plainville, Conn., and Mike Lemnotis and his wife, Linda, of Whitehall, N.Y.; his sister, Jeanette Zissis of Kensington, Conn.; his three grandchildren, John Peter Lemnotis of Salt Lake City, Utah, Theane Filkins and her husband, Donald, of Gansevoort, N.Y., and Micheal Longobardo of Whitehall, N.Y.; and also by several nieces and nephews. John is also survived by special family members, Jimmy and Mihaela Ieremias and their children, Andra and Maria, all of Fair Haven.

Besides his parents, he was predeceased by a sister, Mary Paitaris and a brother, Andrew Lemnotis.

A service to honor John's life will be conducted on Saturday, October 30, 2010, at 12 Noon at the Fair Haven Inn Restaurant, 5 Adams Street, Fair Haven.

Funeral services will be conducted on Monday, November 1, 2010, at 12 noon at Saint George Greek Orthodox Church, West Main Street, New Britain, Conn. Burial will follow the service in Fairview Cemetery in New Britain.

There will be no visiting hours.

Rather than flowers, John's family requests memorial contributions in his memory to the Fair Haven Concerned Emergency Fund, Washington Street, Fair Haven, VT 05743.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Durfee Funeral Home in Fair Haven, and the Carlson Funeral Home, 45 Franklin Square, New Britain, CT.