Alek John Haidos

A Los Angeles native, Alek John Haidos was born on May 10, 1930. He lived with his parents Aggeliki and Peter Haidos and sister Milia (Zaferis) in their home located on what is now the University of Southern California (USC) campus. At an early age, he would proudly walk his pet goat down Vermont Avenue.

Alek was an industrious child helping his family during those difficult Great Depression years by mowing lawns at the age of seven, passing out handbills to the Trojan Theatre for free admission, delivering newspapers and pumping gas at 11. He loved working on cars which became both a hobby and a source of employment throughout his school years.

Alek graduated from Manual Arts High School in 1948 where he was a member of the Knights student service group, and president of student council. He attended the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) from 1950-1952, where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity and a member of Key Club.

His university life was interrupted when Uncle Sam came calling and Alek spent two years in the United States Army during the conclusion of the Korean War. He was stationed in Nancy, France which allowed him to travel throughout Europe and to meet the families of both his parents in the Peloponnese, Greece.

Upon his discharge from military service, Alek returned to UCSB with a 1953 Porsche making him “Big Man on Campus”. He received his Bachelor of Arts in 1955 and went on to earn his Master of Science degree in education in 1958 from USC. As a budding entrepreneur, he sold his beloved Porsche for the down payment on a piece of property, giving him entry into the world of real estate, which became a secondary occupation.

In 1957 he met Christine Panousis from San Pedro at the Greek Easter Picnic and a year later they were married. Alek frequently said this was the best decision he ever made. The couple was blessed with two children, Peter and Alexia.

Alek, who could fix almost anything, enjoyed teaching Industrial Arts at Audubon Junior High, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), where his students frequently won awards for their skills. He was vice-principal at Venice Skill Center, East LA Occupational Center and Banning-Carson Community Adult School. He served as principal at Jordan-Locke, San Pedro and South Gate Community Adult Schools. His positive attitude brought a sense of calm to those challenging assignments.

While assigned in the Los Angeles harbor area, Alek served as president of the San Pedro-Wilmington Coordinating Council and was a member of Kiwanis. He was president of American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) Neptune Chapter, chairman of AHEPA’s District 20 Scholarship Foundation and a member of American Legion, Leonidas Post. A highlight was volunteering at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

He was also president of The Speculators, a stock club dedicated to fellowship and having fun.

Shortly after retiring from LAUSD, Alek joined the staff of the College of Oceaneering, a commercial diving school, in Wilmington, California. Five years later, he and John Schwitters teamed up to purchase the school. This was a fitting culmination of his career in adult and vocational education.

For decades Alek was deeply involved with Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral. He served on the Parish Council, was chairman of the Camp Committee and for many years was a Trustee of the Saint Sophia Foundation. Drawing from his industrial arts background, his focus was the maintenance and preservation of his beloved church. A project close to his heart there was overseeing the construction of Saint Constantine Chapel.

Alek enjoyed traveling the world with Christine and many dear friends, attending car shows with son Peter and being neighbors of daughter Alexia and son-in-law Mark on the same street in Rancho Palos Verdes.

It was during those carefree later years that Alek discovered the wonders of Costco. “His” Costco was always on the way to somewhere. He would enter that Dreamland of Bargains and wonder how many of those fabulous deals he could take home without getting into deep trouble. Would it be the luscious five pound block of cheese for two? Two gallons of shampoo that only he used? Enough gas in the car? Only three quarters of a tank full?

On April 16, 2023, Greek Orthodox Easter morning, Alek passed away peacefully in his sleep at the home he built, cherished and meticulously maintained. He was 92 years old.

Always grateful, Alek recently said, “I’ve had a good life and wouldn’t change anything.”

He was preceded in death by his parents, loving sister and dear cousin Soterios “Sam” Menzelos.

Alek is survived by his devoted wife of 65 years Christine (Panousis) Haidos, his adoring children Peter Haidos and Alexia (Mark) Itzigsohn; Mark’s daughters' Romy and Mikelle Itzigsohn; nieces Vasi Sotiriou, Angelic Carroll, Diana Dearmin, Stacy Gullette and Janet Jones; nephews Demetrious Zaferis, Peter Zaferis, Theodore Zaferis, John Menzelos and George Menzelos; godchildren Marie Koulos Kokenis, Bill Hansen and Alek Alevizos as well as many relatives in Greece.

His family thanks his remarkable caregivers Chris Abellanosa, Boots Catangay, Zenaida C. Del Rosario, Jose Victor Benavides and Oscar Bernardo.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 27that 10:30 A.M. at Saint Sophia Cathedral, 1324 S. Normandie Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90006.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Saint Sophia Foundation, 1324 S. Normandie Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90006.