John C. Orfanos

John Constantine Orfanos, 82, died Thursday, December 4, 2025 at his home in Salisbury. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Diomi Orfanos who passed away in 2021.

John was born in the town Glossa on the scenic island of Skopelos Greece on April 4 1943. He was raised by Konstantine and Siriano Orfanos. He left home at the age of 13, going to the city of Volos to learn the electrician trade. However this was not the path he would take, and shortly he got a job on merchant ships and for the next 12 years traveled the world on a variety of cruise ships and other nautical adventures. He always loved to tell stories of his adventures from London, to Poland, to Indonesia.

He grew up 2 doors away from his future wife Diomi Tsoukalas. They knew each other all their lives. The two would marry in 1970 and had their first son Konstantinos Orfanos the same year. He came to the United States in 1974 to find opportunity to raise his family. In 1974 the family welcomed his second son Evangelos Orfanos in NYC. The family settled in the heavily Greek community of Astoria Queens. He worked as a butcher, and driver for a wealthy friend and eventually opened up a club called Soccer Fever in Astoria.

In 1984 the family moved to Salisbury looking for a quieter life. He eventually would buy a pizza shop where he worked until his wife’s illness.

In Salisbury he was able to follow his passion of raising and caring for his beloved animals like goats, sheep, rabbits, guinea hens, and of course his hens and roosters.

He loved the soccer team Olympiakos. He loved watching and hearing about his grandkids play soccer. He was a gifted story teller and loved to argue with anyone that would give him a challenge

In 2019 to 2021 he took care of his beloved wife Diomi as she battled a terminal illness.

He is survived by his son Konstantinos Orfanos and his wife Christi Orfanos and their children, Iannis and Julien, and his son Evangelos Orfanos and his partner Melissa McLucas.

A funeral service will be held Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 11 A.M at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 7 Harris Street, Newburyport followed by a burial in Union Cemetery, Amesbury, where he will be eternally reunited with his beloved wife. Arrangements are by Elliott, Woodworth & Rogers Family Funeral Home, 35 Green Street, Newburyport.