Lazaros S. Pontidis

Lazaros S. Pontidis, age 89, of Oak Ridge, NJ, died on Saturday, April 9, 2011 of natural causes while surrounded by his beloved family in his home. Lazaros was born in Constantinople, Greece on May 21, 1921. As a child during World War I, Lazaros lost his beloved mother, Ekaterini, due to the effects of the war, and was forced to immigrate to Stamna, Greece with his father, Spiridon. Lazaros was raised with eleven brothers and sisters, and worked various jobs to support his family-eventually specializing in his father's trade of shoemaking. At the age of 17, Lazaros volunteered to join the Greek army and served in World War II and the Civil War and received various medals of honor. Lazaros married Krystallenia from Drama, Greece, and moved to Athens in 1950, where he enjoyed his life there for several years with his three children. In 1974, Lazaros joined his children in the United States. Lazaros lost his beloved wife in 1991, and is survived by his three children, Efterpi Paul of Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, Spiridon Pontidis of Clifton, NJ, and Leonidas Pontidis of Oak Ridge, NJ, eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren in New Jersey and Texas. A viewing will be held on Tuesday, April 12, 2011, between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m., service to be held at 8:00 p.m. at the Morrison Funeral Home, 86 Bartholdi Avenue, Butler, NJ 07405. He will be missed dearly by all.