PITTSFIELD -- Sarando "Sam" P. Giftos, 83, of Cape Elizabeth, Maine and Sarasota, Fla., died Thursday, December 2, 2004 at home in Sarasota.

Born in Pittsfield on Feb. 20, 1921, son of Peter Sarando and Florence Sotero Verenis Giftos, he moved to Portland, Maine, and was a 1938 graduate of Portland High School. He graduated from Boston University in 1942 and received his master's degree in 1944.

 

A captain in the U.S. Navy, he served during World War II and the Korean War. He was active in the Naval Reserves for many years.

 

Mr. Giftos was employed as a teacher in the business education department of Portland High School and served as head of the department. He retired in 1977 and opened a private accounting practice.

 

He was a member of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church and was past treasurer and also a past member of the board of the Portland Symphony Orchestra and was treasurer for eight years.

 

He was a member of Rotary in South Portland-Cape Elizabeth and served as its president in 1973-74. For several years he served as treasurer of Rotary District 779 and later served as district governor of District 779 in 1985-86. He was also a member of many district and international committees and represented the Rotary International president at district conferences. He represented Rotary all over the world, traveling to New Zealand, China and many other countries.

 

He was predeceased by his daughter Barbara Florence Giftos.

 

He leaves his wife of 63 years, the former Helene M. Comas of Cape Elizabeth; two daughters, Helene Grossman of New York City and Mary Dulac of Cape Elizabeth; a son, Michael Giftos of Jacksonville, Fla.; a sister, Athena Lydotes of Winchester, Mass.; two brothers, Constantine Peter Giftos of Falmouth, Maine, and Peter S. Giftos Jr. of Kittery Point, Maine; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

 

FUNERAL NOTICE -- Visiting hours will be held on Sunday from 3 to 6 at the HOBBS FUNERAL HOME, 230 Cottage Road, South Portland, Maine. Trisagion services will be held at 5. Funeral service will be held Monday, Dec. 6, at 11 at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 133 Pleasant St. Portland, Maine. Interment will be at the Riverside Cemetery in Cape Elizabeth. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 75133, Chicago, IL 60675-5133 or The Trinity Foundation, The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 133 Pleasant St. Portland, Maine 04101.

Published in The Berkshire Eagle on Dec. 4, 2004