Solon (Buzz) Nicholas Kanakis passed away on Thursday, January 30, 2020 at the age of 98.
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, son of Nicholas and Vasiliki (Velarsios) Kanakis, the fourth of five children, Buzz lived most of his young life in Decatur, Illinois where he attended High School and participated in football and track. He married Marjorie Bardis in 1946. They were married for 72 years until her passing in 2019. After their marriage Marge and Buzz lived in Decatur, Keene, NH and Newport, NH where they raised four children.
Buzz enlisted in the Marine Corps at the start of WWII and was deployed to the South Pacific where he served two and a half years as a communications corporal. At the end of the war Buzz returned to Decatur and worked at the family restaurant before moving to New Hampshire where he worked for Remington Rand and then opened his own office machine business where he worked until his retirement.
Buzz was a loving father, grandfather and great grandfather and an avid sportsman. Throughout his life he played golf, tennis, softball, table tennis, and was a bowler as well. He participated in the NH Senior games for many years in golf, table tennis, bowling and horseshoes.
He was a member of the St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox church in Newport.
Buzz is survived by his sons Nicholas (Regina) and Mark (Debra) and daughters Leigh and Catherine (Roland). He was known as Papou to his grandchildren and great grandchildren: Nichole (John), Ariann (Denis), Gabriel (Jessie), Benjamin (Nadine), Nathan (Aimee), Allison (Alex), Nicholas, Emily (Steven), Nathan, Samantha, Charlotte, and Eleanor. He was predeceased by his siblings Piney Kortes, Costas Kanakis, Marie Plunkett, and Diane Weinstein. He is also survived by his step great grandchildren, many cousins, nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.
The burial will be held at 11:00 Wednesday, February 5, 2020 at the Monadnock Cemetery in Keene, NH.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Buzz’s name to the Town of Newport Recreation Department or the St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church in Newport.
For more information or to send a condolence, visit the Newton-Bartlett Funeral Home at www.newtonbartlett.com.
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