Obituary of Chris P. Handrinos

Chris P. Handrinos of Norwalk, Connecticut, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle, died peacefully after a long illness in his home, surrounded by his family. He was 80 years old. Chris was born in Artemisia, Greece, and emigrated to the United States at the age of 23. He settled in Norwalk, Connecticut, and started a truly American success story. He met and married his beloved wife Vasiliki (Betty), and together they built a family (Peter, Maria, and Lisa), and many businesses. Chris started his new life in America doing any work available, cleaning buildings, delivering newspapers. He learned the language and always strove to improve himself. And did he. In time he found a job in a factory, Automatic Signal, where he was promoted to Team Leader. Then he was introduced to the real estate business by his business partner Louis Casolo, and together the two invested in real estate. Chris joined Lou in the insurance agency Casolo, Friedman, and Paspalis, where Chris became a top selling insurance agent and eventually, partner. In 1985 Chris purchased what was then called the Norwalk Motor Inn. During the next 37 years, with Vasiliki at his side, he transformed it into what is now the Norwalk Inn, a landmark, successful family-operated hotel. As Chris used to say, life had given him many riches: family, businesses. But it also gave him tragedy. He lost his son Peter to cancer at the age of 42. Following Peter's death, Chris established the Peter C. Handrinos Scholarship Foundation in honor of his memory, and to help deserving students in Chris’s home village in Greece. The Foundation has given and continues to give scholarships to economically disadvantaged students there. Chris is survived by his wife Betty, his daughters Maria and Lisa, Maria’s husband Matthew DeVito, his granddaughters Sophia and Isabella DeVito, his brother Nikitas Handrinos, sister Georgia Lathouris, and many nephews, nieces, and Godchildren. He is predeceased by his father and mother, Panagiotis and Maria Handrinos, his son Peter C. Handrinos, his sister-in-law Alexandra Handrinos, his brother-in-laws Vasilios Lathouris and Athanasios Nanos. Calling hours will be held at Collins Funeral Home on East Avenue in Norwalk, Connecticut on Tuesday, August 9 from 4 to 8 PM; funeral services will be held on August 10 at 10 AM at the St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Norwalk, followed by a burial at the Riverside Cemetery in Norwalk. There will be a memorial/“makaria” luncheon at the Norwalk Inn. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Peter C. Handrinos Scholarship Foundation.