Obituary of John Demetrios Papageorge

John Demetrios Papageorge of Peabody Massachusetts passed away on February 1, 2006 at the Peabody Glen Nursing Home after a brief illness. He was 89 years old. Mr. Papageorge was born on July 21, 1916 on Tracy St. in Peabody son of Demetrios and Kaliope ( Giacomis) Papageorge. Both of his parents emigrated from Samos Greece at the beginning of the 20th Century. He was raised and educated in Peabody. Mr. Papageorge went to work during the Great Depression at the New England Meat Market to help his family make ends meet. He soon became a truck driver, working for Edward Zorzie, making deliveries, picking up produce at the Chelsea Produce Market and helping to operate Mr. Zorzie’ s produce market on Pleasant St. in Lynn. He then worked as a certified CDL driver for Vlahos Bros. Inc. of Lynn until his retirement at age 79. He married Doris C. Binette of Lynn in 1959. During the 1950’ s - 1970’ s, he owned and operated his own fruit and produce stand Julies Dee’ s Farm in Essex, named for his only daughter. He also spent many years selling odds and ends at Ginny’ s Flea Market in Rowley and tended a garden plot at Endicott Park in Danvers. He is survived by his daughter, Julie Dee Papageorge of Peabody, a high school art teacher; his former wife Doris C. Papageorge of Beverly; a sister, Katherine Oppito of Peabody and a niece Elaine MacCormick of Salem. His brothers Charles and Stephen Papageorge and his sister Mary Evangelista pre deceased him. There will be a private family service in the spring to distribute his ashes. Anyone wishing to make a donation in his memory may make it to the American Diabetes Association, 1 Broomfield St., Suite 5, Boston, MA 02108.