Frederick Chirigotis US Army - Obituary

hirigotis, Frederick F. On Sunday, September 2, 2012 Lt. Colonel Frederick Fotis Chirigotis (RET) U.S Army, peacefully left to be with our Lord. He was the devoted husband of Marguerite Reynolds Chirigotis for 68 yrs, the loving father of his daughter Jeannette Marie, and the proud grandfather of Vanessa Marie, Lindsay Michelle, his great granddaughter Audrey Marie and his God children. Fred, the eldest of three brothers and two sisters, was born in New Bedford Mass. to Antone Chirigotis and Panayota Lavakos Chirigotis of Kythera and Sparta Greece. From the beginning, he was a leader, faithful to his heritage and a devote servant in the Greek Orthodox Church, where the ideals of education, philanthropy, civil responsibility, and family values was a way of life. With pride he retired from the U.S Army in 1961, having served as a tank commander in WWII with the 745th Tank Battalion, First Infantry Division under General George S. Patton. His Battalion was awarded Presidential unit citation, French Fourragere, Belgian Fourragere, three distinguished service crosses, three Croix de Guerre (French Purple Heart), over seventy silver stars, over two hundred seventy five bronze stars and eleven battle field commissions. These awards are in remembrance of the Victory in Normandy and also the Liberation of Alsace. His name and Battalion is dedicated at the National D-day Museum in New Orleans, LA., where his story of American Bravery is preserved by an Academy Award nominated documentary film “D-day Remembered”, which is shown continuously in the Museum Theater. Lt Col. Chirigotis loyally served his Country again in Korea with honor, pride, bravery and humility. Following his military career, Fred worked twenty years as a project officer for the State of Maryland’s Office of International Development to promote and develop import and export for the state. Fred was a member along with his wife at Ss.Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Annapolis Md., for over forty years and he served as past Parish Council President and assisted with the original building of the church at it’s current location. He was a committed Parishioner and loved by everyone. He kept the Ideals of the Orthodox Church alive in all paths of his life. In addition, Fred was the Vice President of the Achilles Foundation dedicated to provide archaeological activities uncovering the lost beauty of ancient Greece. These studies in Pharsala, Greece and the United States are conducted by President Dr. James Brianas of the University of Florida. The Achilles Foundation project of twenty years currently excavates primarily where the Trojan War took place in Thessely and is working to foster continuous academic studies on site. Everyone who knew Fred understood he was full of heart, sharp wit and humor that truly would do anything for the love of his life, his wife and best friend Marguerite. Together they dedicated their mind, heart and soul into every path they chose. They kept their heritage alive. God’s angles led him home that Sunday morning: however, we know he is now our guide from heaven and still very much a part of each and every one of us. “So don’t worry, because I am with you.” Isaiah 41:10 Friends are invited to Mr. Chirigotis' Life Celebration at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD from 7 to 9pm on September 6, 2012. A funeral service will be held at Ss. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 2747 Riva Road Annapolis, MD at 10:30am on September 7, 2012. Interment St. Demetrios Greek Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Ss. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church.