Dr. Costas Poulios, age 90, died peacefully on April 2nd at the Harbor Place assisted living facility in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where he had resided for more than two years.
Born in Manchester, New Hampshire on January 5, 1922, Costas was the son of the late Demetrios Poulios and Anneta Voyiazas and at the age of 16 moved to Concord, New Hampshire to live with his oldest brother, Alexander. Costas soon graduated from Concord High School in 1940 and then enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and served as a radio operator and tail gunner on a B-17 during World War II in the Pacific and Carrribean theaters from 1940 to 1945.
After the war, Costas enrolled at the University of New Hampshire under the G.I. bill, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He was then admitted into the dental school program at Tufts University in Boston, receiving his D.M.D. in 1951. After graduating from Tufts, Costas married Helen Frances Hatzi on September 7, 1952. Costas and Leni were the first couple to be wed in St. Basil's Greek Orthodox Church in Newport, New Hampshire.
Costas opened and operated his own dental practice in Newport, New Hampshire, from 1952 to 1984. Costas always took special care of his elderly patients, and many times performed dental work for little or no charge, for grateful neighbors who would send produce or antiques to his home.
During his working years, Costas enjoyed many activities and hobbies. He designed and helped build two of his homes: One in Newport and one in Newbury, New Hampshire. Later in his life, he became a competitive long-distance runner, qualifying for the Boston Marathon, in which he ran his personal best in 1978, at the age of 56. In 1984, Costas and Leni retired to Port St. Lucie, Florida and Costas learned to sail and became quite an accomplished baker and woodworker. Much of his Shaker-style pieces, such as a pencil-post bed, a grandfather clock, and dozens of other pieces, still furnish the homes of his loved ones. Costas enjoyed good health and an active lifestyle until recently.
Costas was predeceased by his brothers, Aristides Poulios and Alexander Poulios of Portland, Maine. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Leni, of Port St. Lucie, Florida. He is also survived by his siblings, Persephone Poulios, Helen Poulios, Ploutarhos Poulios, and Agamemnon Poulios; by his three children; his daughter, Constance Triantis, and her husband, John, of Vero Beach, Florida, by his son, Demetrius Poulios, and his wife, Leslie Goulet, of Eagle, Colorado, and by his daughter, Ann Boswell, and her husband, David, of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware; and by his beloved grandson, Alexander James Boswell.
A funeral service will be held at 11:30 AM on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at the Panagia Vlahernon Greek Orthodox Monastery at 12600 W HWY 318, Williston, FL 32696.
Arrangements are under the direction of Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home and Crematory in Vero Beach, FL. Condolences may be sent at www.coxgiffordseawinds.com.