- Date Of Birth: June 19, 1933
- Date Of Death: August 2, 2021
- State: Florida
John N. Rallis (Sr.)
Born: June 19, 1933
He shipped out with the Army toward the end of the conflict in Korea and absorbed numerous life lessons – it was his first real exposure to life outside his “Χωριό” (“village” where you grow up) and was his first exposure to more-worldly things like champagne and lobster while on leave in Tokyo.
When he completed his 2 year tour after promotion to Corporal, he returned to Pontiac and bought a Tastee-Freez business near Lake Orion, MI, but soon decided he needed a wholesale change. He was invited to Florida where family friends had moved, so he took them up on their offer. It was a decision that would set the stage for the rest of his life.
He found employment as a traveling salesman for a wholesaler of Florida souvenir items. On his route was a little gift shop in St. Cloud called “Paro’s” (a nickname for the owner, Amparo, who was a close family friend of Mary Harrell and Mary’s daughter Hester, our Mom).
Mom – a divorcee and with 3 young children (Robert, Scott, and Rosemary) – worked at the gift shop. Dad went in to sell souvenir items but came out with an interest in Hester instead. They dated, he proposed (Mom made coffee), and the rest is history.
They married at St.
Around that time, Dad found his first job as a traveling salesman in petroleum products – a career he would keep for nearly 50 years. At one time, he was even honored by his Company for reaching the #2 spot for sales in the State of Florida.
During his working years, he was active in the St. Cloud Kiwanis Club where he served as President and the Central Florida Sales and Marketing Executives Association.
He loved the Choir and was especially fond of long-time Director Mike Cokias from whom he learned a great deal. He attended many, many Choir Conferences throughout the Southeast and maintained strong views that the Director and Organist positions should be paid as professionals.
Having lived in St. Cloud for most of his life, he fully embraced it as his adopted hometown and ultimately left the sidelines to enter local politics where he established himself as a business-minded pragmatist. He served as City Councilman for four, 2-year terms: 1990-1991 and then from 1998-2003. He also served as Deputy Mayor from 2000-2001. He also served on many committees including the Gateway Advisory Board, Finance Committee, General Pension Board, and the Charter Review Committee. During his time as a Councilman, the City engaged in a significant public-private partnership (“Stevens Plantation”) and enhanced its infrastructure, including the new City Hall and Marina Banquet Hall, both of which have plaques honoring him and the others who made it possible.
Despite his love for St. Cloud, his compass always pointed north to Michigan. He looked forward to the “Woodward Dream Cruise” every August and was even thinking of going again this year (at age 88). He relished reliving old times with childhood friends and family, and going “home” to Detroit was never a hard sell to him. Although it was his favorite vacation destination, later in life he traveled to diverse places such as the American and Canadian Rockies, Vegas, South Korea (complimentary, honored as a Korean War veteran), and eventually on a cruise to Greece.
Dad was a man of strong opinion. All you had to do was ask him (sometimes not even – he was a lecturer in search of an audience!
He is survived by Hester (nee Harrell) his beloved wife of 55 years, children Robert (Phyllis), Scott (Denise), Rosemary (Don), and John II (Nancy); grandchildren Jason (Jackie), Rashae (Clint), Charrienne, Chisholm, Colton, Cheyelo, Cash, Jared (Holly), Hunter, Drew, and Alexis; and great-grandchildren Austin, Tammy, Troy, Desiree, Destiney, Chris, Jensen, Hayden, and Harper. He is also survived by cousins Mary (Jose) Perez, William Sarros, and George Rendziperis. He was preceded in death by his parents, Nicholas and Cleo, and siblings George (Gus), Socrates, and Madeline (Lulu).
The family of John N.
Αιωνία η μνήμη αυτού!
Eternal be his memory!
