Ioannis (John) Vavagiakis
Ιωαννης Βαβαγιακης
Γεννη: Παλεοχωρα, Κρητη 1924
Born: Paleochora, Crete 1924
Ioanna (Anna) (Glentzaki) Vavagiakis
Ιωαννα (Αννα) (Γλεντζακη) Βαβαγιακη
Γεννη: Ασι Γονια, Κρητη 1928
Born: Asi Gonia, Crete 1928
The Wedding
On March 26, 1956 John and Anna were married at the church where her mother, Maria Glentzakis, was caretaker for many years: Evangelistra in Xalepa, Chania, Crete.
That evening they took the Ferry boat to Athens to spend some time with Anna’s brother, Kosta before their journey to the US. Needless to say the wedding was bittersweet.
New York
John and Anna left Pireas on the “Olympia” steamship and arrived in New York City on April 12, 1956. Their first residence was in the Bronx, near Anna’s uncle and sponsor, Papa Kostakis. There they had Steve (Efstratios) and Costa (Constantinos). After Papa Kostakis moved the church to Jackson Heights, Queens they moved to Astoria, Queens. It is where their third child Peter (Panagiotis) was born. In 1973, the family moved to Richmond Hill, Queens in a building that John constructed.
Τα Παιδια
The Children
