James P. Tsaffaras
Retired Lowell Police Officer
LOWELL James P. Tsaffaras, age 89, died January 7, 2009, with his loving family by his side, following a brief illness. He would have celebrated his 90th birthday on January 15, 2009. For fifty three years, he was the loving husband of Marilyn (Richter) Tsaffaras until her death on June 15, 1999. He was a lifelong resident of the Acre and Highlands Sections of Lowell.
A son of the late Peter J. and the late Angeline Tsaffaras, he was born in Lowell, attended the Bartlett Junior High School and graduated from Lowell High School, Class of 1938.
Mr. Tsaffaras served as a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, Fourth Division during World War II until his honorable discharge in November 1945. His service included the Tinian, Saipan, and Iwo Jima Campaigns. He received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his heroic actions on the Island of Iwo Jima.
He was a member of the Hellenic Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, Past President of the local Ahepa organization and a proud member of the Greek American Legion.
Mr. Tsaffaras was a Sergeant on the Lowell Police Department, joining the Department in 1953 until his retirement in January 1984. He proudly served the City in a variety of assignments, as a Patrolman and a Detective on both the Vice Squad and the Criminal Bureau. He was awarded the Policeman of the Year Award in 1982 for his unselfish devotion to duty. This award was presented to him not for one particular act of bravery or arrest, but instead, for his consistent contributions to his department and his professional and understated manner. He was renowned for his meticulous memory and especially for his tremendous compassion while enforcing the law. After his retirement from the City, he worked for several years as a Security Guard for the Washington Savings Bank in Lowell.
He is survived by a son, Peter H. and his wife, Sherilyn (Sykes) Tsaffaras, of Quincy; two daughters, Elizabeth Gill and her husband, James, of Hollis, NH, and Angela Callahan and her husband, Russell, of Pelham, NH; his brother, George P. and his wife Renee Jeffreys, of Lowell; and two sister in laws, Charlotte (Richter) Hill of Andover; and Jean Tsaffaras of New York. He was also blessed with eight grandchildren who loved him dearly, Anne E. Tsaffaras, Christopher J. Gill, Alexander J. Gill, Meghan Elizabeth Gill, Taylor E. Callahan, Ryan P. Callahan, Sarah E. Callahan, and Timothy B. Callahan; and several nieces and nephews.
In his addition to his wife, Marilyn, he is predeceased by a grandson, Mathew J. Callahan. He was also the brother of the Helen Tolos, Eva Demos, Sophia Tsaffaras, William Tsaffaras, Andrew Tsaffaras, Charles Tsaffaras, and Martin Tsaffaras.
YOU ARE INVITED TO HIS CALLING HOURS 2 UNTIL 7 P.M. ON SUNDAY. ON MONDAY,
HIS FUNERAL WILL BEGIN AT 9 A.M. AT THE MCDONOUGH FUNERAL HOME, 14 HIGHLAND STREET, LOWELL (978 OR 800) 458-6816.
HIS FUNERAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD AT THE HELLENIC ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY, AT 10 A.M.
BURIAL IN THE EDSON CEMETERY.
MEMORIALS IN HIS NAME TO THE GREATER LOWELL VNA HOSPICE, P O BOX 1965, LOWELL MA 01853
OR TO THE GREEK AMERICAN LEGION, 228 WORTHEN ST., LOWELL MA 01852.
