ForeverMissed
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Peter Paul Mitrakas, 94, of Rockville, Maryland, passed peacefully in the comfort of his own home surrounded by his family on May 6th 2020.

Peter was born to parents Paul and Despina (Marandos) Mitrakas on May 30th 1925 in Vithos, Greece and immigrated to Brockton, Mass in 1928. He attended school in Massachusetts and served in the U.S. Army in WWII, Asian-Pacific, 1943-1946, afterwards working with General Douglas MacArthur’s staff at HQ Tokyo until 1950. He was decorated with several medals and received an Honorable Discharge. First of his siblings, he earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of Houston and a Master’s degree in Finance from Boston University. Peter worked for the Department of Justice for 43 years, retiring in 1995.

Peter was an intellectual, voracious reader and a historical scholar. He was especially proud of his Greek heritage and often times regaled of the glories of Ancient Greece to family members and friends. Even at the age of 94, he was a force of nature, keeping an active physical lifestyle. He made every effort in keeping his kinetic energy in motion and felt a stagnant life was no life at all. He would walk up to 2 miles daily, spending countless hours doing yard work, tree trimming and even chopping wood. He was resolute in his pursuit to making it to the 100-year mark. Unfortunately, The Fates hastily snip his final thread. He was an inspiration to those young and old.

Peter is survived by his wife Maria (Angelopoulos) of 66 years along with his 4 children, sons, Ulysses, Homer, Timon, daughter Pandora and many loving grandchildren, great-grand children, nieces, nephews and extended family. Peter was a loving father, husband, grandfather, and friend to everyone.

He was predeceased by his brother Theodore (92), Kasiane (95), Steven (94), and recently passed brother Gregory (99). He is survived by his sister, Daphne (Debbie) Tsanotelis, Milton Mass.

Η μνήμη του να είναι αιώνια, Everlasting be his memory.
May 30, 2021
May 30, 2021
What a wonderful tribute to Uncle Peter...he was an inspirational in his discipline of life.....never forget that...remarkable mind....he is just as fortunate to have you all to continue his memory!
May 6, 2021
May 6, 2021
Remembering Uncle Peter on the one year anniversary of his passing.  There are some beautiful tributes posted here on his life well lived. Our thoughts and love are with you today. 

Greg, Kathy, Gregory, Zachary, and Elyssa Mitrakas
May 30, 2020
May 30, 2020
Remembering today, which would have been Uncle Peter's 95th birthday
May 29, 2020
May 29, 2020
What a wonderful tribute you have written above!! Uncle Peter was a vibrant, dynamic and intelligent man who loved to engage in deep conversations. I would enjoy our discussions, but you had to be alert and aware to keep up with him!! And he was so energetic and active, even in his later years.  He was a member of the Greatest Generation, devoting his life to make things better for his children.  A WWII veteran who put his life on the line for his new country, yet always remained fiercely proud of his Greek Heritage. Tough and strong as a man, yet kind and loving to his family and friends. A wonderful example to us all of a life well lived. May his memory live forever. 

Greg, Kathy, Gregory, Zachary, and Elyssa
May 27, 2020
May 27, 2020
Great souls never ever part, they leave an impression on anyone they come across. Everyone will remember your father Peter as a fantastic human being. I always enjoyed spending time with him in my youth, he was so kind and gracious. God bless you and your family in this hour of grief. May Peter's soul Rest in Peace.
The Nacarato Family
May 25, 2020
May 25, 2020
Mr. Mitrakas was an incredible person -- one can easily tell by the wonderful family he helped create. Rockville will never be the same without him walking to the post office each day. He will be missed.
May 23, 2020
May 23, 2020
Nia and I were shocked to hear from Timon that my Uncle Peter passed because even at 94 years old he had set the bar for life very high for me in terms of mental clarity, mobility, & physicality. I will always remember having some long (almost always intense & informative) conversations. I am glad to have known him and proud to call him my uncle. May we live up to his high standards for a long life always in pursuit of knowledge. Always.....
May 22, 2020
When i think of Uncle Peter i will always remember his pride in his Greek heritage... both of ancient country and today.  He really wanted our family history to be understood and appreciated. He was a strong man and an intellect. A hard worker, as were every single of his siblings. A great example to us all. 

When i was about 20 years old my company sent me to Washington DC to hand carry a contract to GSA. I met up with Uncle Peter and a colleague for lunch. He was at the Department of Justice and i remember being very impressed!  I remember the feeling of pride and importance of who he (and by default, me!) was when i was introduced. 

Life will never be the same, but we have memories forever and will continue his legacy thru them.
May 21, 2020
Mr. Mitrakas was an amazing person. We will always remember him as a great family man, hard worker, and honest straight shooter. He was a real role model to all of us. We wish we could have spent more time together and we will miss him immensely.
Demetri, Deb, Niki, and Alex
May 21, 2020
May 21, 2020
We are so saddened to learn of Uncle Peters untimely passing. We have wonderful memories of times spent with Uncle Peter and his family...we will cling to those memories..love and hugs
Dave and Diane

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Recent Tributes
May 30, 2021
May 30, 2021
What a wonderful tribute to Uncle Peter...he was an inspirational in his discipline of life.....never forget that...remarkable mind....he is just as fortunate to have you all to continue his memory!
May 6, 2021
May 6, 2021
Remembering Uncle Peter on the one year anniversary of his passing.  There are some beautiful tributes posted here on his life well lived. Our thoughts and love are with you today. 

Greg, Kathy, Gregory, Zachary, and Elyssa Mitrakas
May 30, 2020
May 30, 2020
Remembering today, which would have been Uncle Peter's 95th birthday
Recent stories
May 30, 2021
My dear uncle Peter.  I’m thinking of you today and wishing i could turn back the clock.  I remember the time i flew to Washington D.C. for business and you showed me where you worked.  Your pride in your rich heritage was always an inspiration to me.  As well as your strong work ethic.  You were a beast dear uncle!  Now you are with most of your siblings and my sister.  Thank you for making my life richer.  Love, Be
May 29, 2020
Αγαπημένε μου πεθερέ,

Αν και σπάνιες οι φορές που βρεθήκαμε μαζί λόγω της μεγάλης απόστασης Αμερικής Ελλάδας θα ήθελα να σε αποχαιρετήσω στο τελευταίο σου ταξίδι. Πάντα θα θυμάμαι τις πολύωρες συζητήσεις που κάναμε μαζί.
   Είναι γεγονός ότι ήσουν πανάξιος πατέρας, καθώς ενέπνεες τόσο την εμπιστοσύνη των συγγενών όσο και το σεβασμό και την αγάπη της οικογένειας σου, όντας πραγματικός αφέντης.
   Σαν στρατιώτης Πολέμησες για την δεύτερη σου πατρίδα στον WWII, Asian-Pacific, 1943-1946 και μάλιστα για την προσφορά σου τιμήθηκες με πολλά μετάλλια…
   Ήσουν εξαιρετικός οικογενειάρχης με αδιαπραγμάτευτες αρχές, αυστηρός αλλά ωστόσο αξιαγάπητος, τόσο ανάμεσα στους φίλους σου όσο και στους συγγενείς σου.   Εξάλλου, έσπευδες να προσφέρεις με προθυμία τη βοήθειά σου, υλική και ηθική, σε όλους όσους ένιωθες ότι σε είχαν ανάγκη.
   Αφού αγωνίστηκες από μικρός σαν μετανάστης στο στίβο της ζωής και στους φουρτουνιασμένους ωκεανούς, τα κατάφερες στην ζωή και αξιώθηκες να αποκτήσεις με την πολυαγαπημένη σου σύντροφο Μαρία τέσσερα εξαιρετικά παιδιά, τον Οδυσσέα τον Όμηρο, Την Πανδώρα, και τον Τίμων και από αυτά εννέα εγγόνια και τρία δισέγγονα.
   Τώρα όλοι νιώθουν βαριά την έλλειψή σου. Είναι σίγουρο ότι έφυγες ευτυχισμένος, με τα παιδιά σου γύρω σου. Η γυναίκα σου η Μαρία δε σε άφησε ούτε λεπτό μοναχό σου και σε φρόντισε αδιάλειπτα, με ψυχραιμία, μέχρι την τελευταία στιγμή. Τώρα μπορείς να αναπαυθείς σίγουρος ότι δεν την αφήνεις πίσω μόνη.

Ας είναι ελαφρύ το χώμα που θα σε σκεπάσει…

My dear father-in-law,
Although it is rare that we were together due to the long distance between American and Greece, I would like to say goodbye to you on your final trip.

I will always remember the long conversations we had together.
           It is a fact that you were a worthy father, as you inspired both the trust of your relatives and the respect and love of your family, being a true master.
As a soldier you fought for your second home country in WWII, Asian-Pacific, 1943-1946 and in fact for your offer you were honored with many medals…
          You were a great family man with non-negotiable principles, strict but still lovable, both among your friends and your relatives. You were always willingly to offer your help, material and moral, to all those who felt they needed you.
       After fighting from an early age as an immigrant in the arena of life and in the stormy oceans, you succeeded in life and claimed to have four wonderful children with your beloved wife Maria, Odysseus Homer, Pandora, and Timon and nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
            Now everyone is deeply saddened by your absence. It is certain that you left happy, with your children around you. Your wife Maria did not leave you alone for a minute and took care of you unceasingly, calmly, until the last moment. Now you can rest assured that she will not be alone.
           
 Let the soil that covers you be light…



Mr. Mitrakas Memory Eternal

May 21, 2020
Warm & beautiful tribute, clearly his family and friends truly loved and treasured him.  Pistol Pete was quite the Tsamiko dancer, OPA!  Physically strong as bull too the way he worked that sledge hammer splitting wood.  He departed many years before he should have, he will be missed by many.  Our sincere condolences to his loving wife Maria (the best Greek everything), my close buddies Homer, Uly, the rest of the family but especially my brother Timon.  May he rest peacefully, everlasting will be his memory and god bless.    

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