Obituary of John E. Bezemes

John E. Bezemes, 90, of Peabody, died unexpectedly at the Lahey Clinic North in Peabody on Sunday, February 27, 2011. Mr. Bezemes was born in Peabody on October 1, 1920 son of Ernest and Katina (Ravaris) Bezemes. John was raised in Peabody and graduated from Peabody High School Class of 1938 and was a three varsity sport s star lettering in football, basketball and baseball. He then attended the College of the Holy Cross and received his B.S. in Education in 1942. John was later inducted into the Peabody High School Hall of Fame for both athletics and career achievement, and the Holy Cross Hall of Fame in four sports, football, baseball, basketball and track. John was also selected to represent the north in the blue gray football game. John enlisted into the U.S. Army on July 1, 1942, serving as a Sergeant and was honorably discharged on January 31, 1946. Upon his discharge from the Army, he played professional football with the Philadelphia Eagles football team. He later tried for the Chicago Cubs baseball team. Following his professional sports career, John returned to Peabody and taught geography at Peabody High School for 30 years. During this period he coached Varsity football and baseball for many years. As a result of his coaching experience, John was selected to become the athletic director a position which he held for over 10 years. In 1981, John retired from the Peabody School System and to honor his devoted hard work, the City of Peabody dedicated the Peabody High School Baseball Field in his name. John was a loving uncle and later a grand uncle who devoted his time encouraging and supporting them with their sports activities. He traveled extensively throughout the world, but looked forward to every Wednesday going to Essex Aggie to partake in the tasting of the food prepared by the students who majored in the Culinary Art Program. Then on Saturday, he was off to Brothers Restaurant & Deli in Danvers for breakfast. John is survived by his 2 sisters, Julie Kallas and Mary Maheras and her husband James of Peabody, 2 sisters-in-law, Margaret “Peggy” Bezemes of GA and Dorothy Bezemes of IL; his cherished 16 nieces and nephew, Katherine “Kay” Decoulos of Danvers, Antoinette “Toni” Stamatos of Jamaica Plains, Esther Bezemes of Greece, Peter Stavros of OH, Catherine Stavros of Peabody, Ernie Stavros of FL, Katherine Walstrom of IL, Ernest Bezemes of OH, Katherine Bezemes of OH, Nancy Farley of GA, Estelle McInnis of FL, John Kallas of Peabody, Katherine Hansen of Ipswich, Lucretia Bresnahan, Christina Votto and Tina Cassidy all of Peabody; many grand nieces and grand nephews. His siblings, Harriet Stavros, James, George, William and Stephen Bezemes predeceased him. His funeral will be held on Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 9 a.m. from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody followed by his service at 10 a.m. at St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church, 7 Paleologos Street, Peabody. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours are Wednesday, March 2, 2011 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. The family requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in John’s name to St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church, 7 Paleologos St., Peabody, MA 01960. Burial in Harmony Grove Cemetery, Salem.