John C. Coniaris, M.D
. died at age 85 on February 22 at Wingate Manor in
Needham
,
MA
from complications related to Parkinson's disease. He is survived by his devoted life partner, Barbara Broadbent of Needham; his five children, Jeffrey of Boston, and his wife Mary-Ellen; John of Bloomington, IN, and his wife Mary; Thomas of East Sandwich, and his wife Alla; Nicholas of San Diego, CA and Kristen of San Diego, CA; and also his three grandchildren; Catherine, Lucas, and Alexander.
Dr. Coniaris was born on
April 11, 1925
in
Milford
,
MA
and raised in the
Prospect
Heights
section of
Milford
. He was the 5th of ten children born to Charles and Pangiota Coniaris of
Greece
. Immediately after graduating from
Milford
High School
, he served in World War II in the Army Signal Corps, stationed in the
Philippines
and
New Guinea
. After earning his undergraduate degree from
Boston
University, he
graduated from Boston University School of Medicine and interned at
Boston
City
Hospital
. His medical career began when he opened a general practice in Hopedale, MA , he later became the Director of the Framingham Youth Guidance Center In 1977 he founded Framingham Psychiatric Counseling Associates, an enduring multi-discipline group private practice that he directed for 27 years until his retirement in
2004. A
dynamic therapist, he pioneered the education of teachers and school administrators in child psychology. He was past president of the New England Council of Child Psychiatry. He leaves two former wives, the late, Betty Anne Berry of
Milford
and Nancy Blackmun of
Framingham
.
A passionate and inexhaustible skier until age 77, Dr. Coniaris treasured his ancient A Frame chalet on Okemo Mountain. His own father, arrived from rural Greece as a teenager, started out with a produce cart and eventually opened the Quality Restaurant in Milford and the Tremont Plaza restaurant in Boston. For decades, the ever larger Coniaris clan joined for lively Sunday dinners at their parent’s Prospect Street house. Renowned for his skillful preparation of the Holiday lamb, Dr. Coniaris was a consummate joker, occasionally profane, always energetic, an enthusiastic traveler and a loving father and patriarch who supported five children through endless schooling..
He is additionally survived by his sisters: Athene Grabow of Sun Valley, ID; Jeanne Rosenblatt of Worcester; Anna Comolli of
Gloucester
, Dorothy Peacor of
Ann Arbor
,
MI
; his brother Charles of New York City; his cousins William of Bellingham and Stamy of Bellingham; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sisters Helen, whose premature death always pained him, and his sister Mary and brothers Nicholas and William.
All family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service and lunch on
March 6, 2011
at
11 o’clock
at the Portuguese Club, 119 Prospect Height in
Milford
MA
. All are welcome, no R.S.V.P. necessary. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his name to the American Parkinson’s Disease Association (800-223-2732) or the Needham Counsel on Aging (781-455-7555.)
Arrangements are under the direction of the Consigli-Ruggerio Funeral Home 46 Water St.