John Dalkos passed away on November 24, 2025, at the age of 90, surrounded by his loving family and friends.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Stavroula Dalkos; and by his three sons and their spouses - Bob and Vaso, Peter and Elene, and Chris and Roula. He was a proud Papou to ten grandchildren: Stavroula, Yanni, Chris, Vaggeli, Thanasi, Voula, Xara, Denny, and Dena, as well as Sarah, who joined the family in May 2025 when she married his grandson Thanasi.

John was born on December 31, 1934, in the village of Kandila in Arcadia, Greece, to Haralambos and Panagiota Dalkos. At the age of 18, with the support of an uncle who sponsored his entry into the United States, he left his village in search of a better life. He arrived in Long Beach, California, by ship in 1952 with little more than hope, determination, and a strong work ethic. With only a fourth-grade education and no formal experience, he faced the challenges common to many immigrants of his generation, adjusting to a new culture and taking on whatever work he could find to survive. He washed dishes, shined shoes, worked in factories, stuffed feathers into pillowcases, and did any job available to build a life for himself. Long Beach became his home for the next 73 years, a city he loved deeply.

John returned to Greece and married his wife, Stavroula, on July 6, 1958, in Sami, Kefalonia. After their wedding, they returned to the United States to begin their life together and continued building their home in Long Beach. John was honorable, loyal, and deeply devoted to Stavroula, and together they shared 67 years of marriage. Shortly after settling into family life, they welcomed their first child, Bob, followed six years later by Peter and, two years after that, by their youngest son, Chris.

Soon after getting married, John bought a shoe repair shop on 2nd Street in Belmont Shore, where he repaired and shined men's and women's shoes. He quickly befriended many locals, and a group of retired neighborhood regulars often stopped by to chat about the day's news. Even former Governor George Deukmejian, a Bay Shore resident, brought in his shoes and became a friend. As tennis shoes and rubber soles grew popular, the business declined, and he eventually had to close the shop.

John then moved into the restaurant industry, working as a short-order cook for many years in various establishments. When his children were young, he worked the graveyard shift, often seeing his family only a few hours each day. He later owned a small restaurant for a period of time, and when his sons were in middle and high school, the family ran the business together. Without hired help, his three sons worked alongside their parents on weekends and after school.

John was a simple and humble man who always placed his family and others above himself. That never changed throughout his life. He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren, and when his sons were young, he enjoyed barbequing on his 1990 Weber charcoal grill, which he still had to this day. He made the best barbeque chicken, steak, and pork chops, insisting on using only Kingsford charcoal briquettes and never propane.

In his early years, John loved inviting family and friends to his home for dinner parties and poker nights, enjoying the laughter and company they brought. His favorite pastime was playing cards, especially the Greek game Diloti.

As he grew older and spent more time at home, he especially cherished the company of his family. He often invited his children and grandchildren to sit with him, greeting them with his familiar line, "Do you have time to play a couple hands?" Playing cards was one of his favorite ways to share time and laughter with those he loved.

His nephew Nick, visiting from Chicago, could hardly escape a game and with John's skill, he was not easy to beat. His grandson and namesake, Yanni, proved to be his toughest competition, and their spirited matches became a cherished bond between them.

John was a man of Greek Orthodox faith and one of the original members of his beloved parish, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He attended regularly and took great joy in watching his three sons and grandchildren play GOYA (Greek Orthodox Youth of America) basketball.

John's generosity of heart touched everyone around him. He gave freely and unselfishly, always placing the needs of others before his own and offering kindness without measure. He lived each day lifting others up and sowed seeds of love, faith, humility, goodness, and devotion to God. The harvest of those seeds endures through his family and his church.

"He did not grow weary in doing good, for in due season those seeds that he sowed will bear an eternal harvest." - Galatians 6:9

Services are as follow:

Trisagion - Sunday, December 7, 2025 - 7:00 pm
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church - Long Beach, CA
Coffee to follow the Trisagion service at the Assumption Cultural Center

Funeral – Monday, December 8, 2025 – 11:00 am
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church - Long Beach, CA

Interment – Forest Lawn, Cypress at 1:00 pm ( 4471 Lincoln Avenue, Cypress, CA 90630 )

Makaria (Memorial Luncheon) – to follow at the Assumption Cultural Center

May his memory be eternal.

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