Christy James Petrofanis

Christy James Petrofanis, born in Los Angeles on 17 December 1922, passed away on 6 August 2016. He is survived by Dena, his wife of 58 years; daughter Stephanie (Robert) Vezzuto; grandsons Christopher, Michael, and Robert Vezzuto; his beloved niece Katherine Mantikas; and nephews George and James Harris. He is predeceased by his beloved daughter Kathryn Marie; his parents James and Katherine Petrofanis; and his beloved sisters Helen Harris and Anastacia Petrofanis.
A 1941 graduate of Garfield High School, C.J., as he was affectionately known, went on to attend Los Angeles City College and graduated, after his military service during World War II, from Occidental College in 1948 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art, with a Minor in Math/Physics.
Christy enlisted in the United States Navy V-12 program in 1942 and received his commission at Colombia University in 1944. He served during World War II on a destroyer escort in the Pacific Theater as navigator and assistant gunnery officer.
During the Korean Conflict, Christy served aboard a destroyer as gunnery officer off the shores of North Korea and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" for Valor while in action with enemy forces.
Additionally, he served for two years with the Office of Naval Intelligence, plus another two years with the Central Intelligence Agency. He retired from the United States Naval Service in 1963 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander as Commanding Officer of the Naval Reserve Training Center in Long Beach.
After his retirement from the Naval Service, Christy enjoyed a successful, 33-year practice in real estate appraisal, receiving his MAI (Member of the Appraisal Institute) designation in 1974.
Christy was the epitome of the "Greatest Generation", starting to work at the age of 9 to help support his family during the Great Depression, and living his life with a dedication to family and friends, and a life-long patriotism and unwavering devotion to his country.
The Trisagion service will be held on Wednesday, 10 August, at 7:00 p.m. in the Green Hills Chapel. The funeral service will be on Thursday, 11 August, at 12:00 Noon at St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church, 722 Knob Hill Avenue, Redondo Beach. Private burial will follow at Green Hills Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, the Petrofanis family gratefully requests that donations be made to either the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org or the Braille Institute at www.brailleinstitute.org .


Funeral Home:
Green Hills Mortuary and Memorial Chapel
27501 S.Western Ave.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
US 90275