Peter Clyde N. Papadakos

1955 - 2022

Archon Peter Clyde Nicholas Papadakos Esq., 66, of McKeesport, fell asleep in the Lord on Friday, Jan. 14, 2022. He was born July 27, 1955, in McKeesport, and was the son of the late Archon Nicholas and Stavroula "Stella" Sakellariou Papadakos. Mr. Papadakos graduated from McKeesport Area School District in 1973, was a magna cum laude graduate of the Class of 1977 of Dickinson College in Carlisle, where he majored in English and ancient Greek, and earned a Juris Doctor from the Duquesne University School of Law, in Pittsburgh, in 1980. In private practice since 1980, Mr. Papadakos served as the chief legal clerk of the Administrative Judge of the Civil Division of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County from 1980-1983 and from 1984 until 1995 as the chief law clerk of Justice Nicholas P. Papadakos, Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Mr. Papadakos served as a member of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Appellate Rules Committee and as an editor of the Allegheny County Legal Journal.He was a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Allegheny County Bar Association. Mr. Papadakos served as the Propotsalti of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh; the Psalti and choir director of the Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church of Oakmont/Verona, and operated a training program for chanters in the Pittsburgh area through the Oakmont/Verona Parish. Mr. Papadakos was also the treasurer and an active member of the Grecian Odyssey Dancers, the largest Greek folk dance group in Western Pennsylvania, based at the Presentation of Christ Greek Orthodox Church in East Pittsburgh. He was also a member of the AHEPA and its local Lodge in Pittsburgh. Mr. Papadakos also taught a class on Byzantine Greek and chanting for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh at its St. Nicholas Cathedral. Peter Clyde was an engaged member of the Church his entire life, learning to chant from a young age and applying this gift at his home parish of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of McKeesport, at his collegiate parish of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Camp Hill, and for more than four decades at the Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church of Oakmont. He further enhanced the music ministry in the Pittsburgh area by offering free instruction in Byzantine music (including Greek language lessons and a thorough study of the hymns and feasts) to many individuals through the years. Mr. Papadakos was a member of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Archdiocesan Council and its Religious Education Committee and also served as the legal council and secretary of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis and its Metropolis Council from 1980 to present. He was a dedicated servant of the local Diocese & Metropolis since its inception in 1979. He was frequently involved as a co-chair or key facilitator of major events, including the 1997 Apostolic Visit of the Ecumenical Patriarch to Pittsburgh, His Eminence's enthronement in 2011, and most recently, the St. Photios Awards Banquet. He offered his love and talents to many, assisting with Greek Education, the Armonia Chorus, Youth Ministry, traveling to area parishes for feast day vespers, ordinations, funerals, and other sacraments. This he did while also remaining among the longest-participating members of the Grecian Odyssey Dancers of Ypapanti Greek Orthodox Church of East Pittsburgh, with whom he performed 835 shows. From 1995 until 2006, Mr. Papadakos served as the legal council for the Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) and acted as its recording secretary at all of its official meetings. He currently served as legal council to Hellenicare, the humanitarian organization formed through SAE to implement a medical health care relief outreach for Hellenes and their neighbors in the countries of the former Soviet Union and Albania and is a legal council to the United Hellenic American Congress (UHAC). Mr. Papadakos has also served as a legal advisor and trustee to the Endowment Fund established by the National Forum of Greek Orthodox Musicians. He excelled in his service to the national church, representing the Diocese & Metropolis on the Archdiocesan Council for many terms, and participating with distinction on the Legal and Religious Education Committees. His commitment to the work of the Patriarchate was recognized in 2006 with his investiture as Archon Ekdikos of the Ecumenical Patriarchateby Archbishop Demetrios on behalf of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, when Mr. Papadakos was also installed as a member of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle.In 2007, Mr. Papadakos was appointed the regional commander for the Archons in the Metropolis of Pittsburgh and continued this position for 15 years. He is survived by his brothers, James N. (Diane) Papadakos, of Juno Beach, Fla., and Thomas N. Papadakos, of Pittsburgh; his beloved niece, Elena S. Papadakos; nephews, Nicholas J. (Jasmine) Papadakos and Joseph T. Papadakos; great-nephew, James N. Papadakos; and cousins, koumbaroi, friends, cantors, fellow dancers and leaders of the church at all levels. A gathering will take place from 3 until 7 p.m., with a Trisagion offered at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, at Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church, 12 Washington Ave., Oakmont, PA 15139. Orthros and Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, with the funeral service beginning at 11 a.m., also at Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church. Entombment will take place at the mausoleum of McKeesport and Versailles Cemetery. Arrangements are by STRIFFLERS OF WHITE OAK CREMATION AND MORTUARY SERVICES, 1100 Lincoln Way, White Oak, PA 15131 (Sue Striffler Galaski, supervisor, 412-678-6177). The family requests that donations be directed to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh with the memo "Peter Clyde Papadakos Memorial Scholarship Fund," for a scholarship fund to be set up in his honor. These may be mailed to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh, P.O. Box 645953, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-5257. To share a memory or condolence, please visit www.strifflerfuneralhomes.com.