Obituary of Major John Daskos

Major John Daskos was born in Brooklyn, NY on October 8, 1939 to his father Emanuel Daskalakis of Vilandredo, Crete and his mother Olympia Panagiotaki of Chania, Crete. He grew up in his beloved Bay Ridge, Brooklyn with his brothers Joseph and George. He was baptized at the church of Kimisis Tis Theotokou, where he later served as head altar boy and on the church board. He attended Fort Hamilton High School, where he started his long legacy of leadership as the chair of the prom committee. John attended the City College of New York where he received his Associates Degree in Hospitality. He was a proud graduate of the Dale Carnegie Course in Effective Speaking and Human Relations. After meeting at a Greek youth event, he married the love of his life Helen Tsourounakis on January 28, 1967 and moved with her to Scarsdale, NY. Helen and John welcomed their first child Maria that same year and their son Emanuel three years later. In 1970, they moved to Dalewood Drive in Hartsdale, NY where he hosted many gatherings for family and friends over the next fifty years. John was heartbroken when he lost his beloved wife Helen at the young age of 41. With the foundation Helen laid, he went on to raise Maria and Emanuel. John had a long and distinguished career in club management. He was in the country club business since he was twelve years of age, when he started working as a caddie at Sunningdale Country Club in Scarsdale, NY. He soon worked in all departments of the club and was appointed assistant manager at the young age of seventeen. After college, John was an executive trainee at the Waldorf-Astoria and then an executive assistant manager at the Harmonie Club in New York, NY. At just twenty-three years of age in 1964, he took on his first General Manager position, at Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, NY, where he remained for twenty-five years. During his time there, he employed every youth that asked him for a job. He then went on to be the General Manager at Elmwood Country Club, Rockville Links Country Club, and Towers Country Club. He was named Tanqueray Club Manager of the Year by the CMAA in 1999, one year after being inducted into the MCMA’s Hall of Fame. When John assumed the presidency of the Metropolitan Club Managers Association (MCMA) in 1977, he became the Association’s youngest-ever president. He was a Club Management Association of America (CMAA) member since 1967 and is a member of the CMAA’s Fifty-Year Club and the MCMA’s Half-Century Club. He was inducted as a distinguished member of The Waldorf Astoria Alumni Association, an honor for alumni who have achieved fame and success in the hospitality industry following and furthering the traditions and principles of The Waldorf Astoria. He also served as the president of the City Club Managers of NY, the Hotel Executives Club of NY, Ye Hosts Square Club, and Club Managers of Westchester. He received an award recognizing his service to the Metropolitan Club Foundation. Outside of his successful professional career, he was heavily involved in his church community and various philanthropic efforts. At Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of New Rochelle he served as the President (1985-86), Vice President, and Secretary of the Parish Council. He served as a Board Member Trustee for 25 years. John was enthusiastic to be the Vice Chairman of the Building Committee that added a new gymnasium and Social Hall to the church. He remained an honorary member of Holy Trinity’s Parish Council and was a member of the Axion Estin Foundation’s Board of Directors. He was an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Order of St. Andrew the Apostle. In addition, the New Rochelle Evzone Chapter #405 awarded John the Lifetime Achievement Award and he became the Chapter’s 11th Legend. He was a proud member of AHEPA for 40 years and served as a member of the chapter’s Executive Committee and the National Veteran Affairs Committee. John was recognized by AHEPA for developing the “Daskos Barbeque”, an annual early summer gathering of Brothers, at his Hartsdale Ranch. He also served as the president of the Diktamos Cretan Club of Westchester County. Beyond his contributions to the church, he had an unwavering passion and enthusiasm for service within his community. He served as a Major and Administrative Assistant in the New York State Guard, Executive Board Member of the Westchester Alcohol and Drug Dependency Council, and a Volunteer at White Plains Hospital. He received the Community Service Award from the Village of Rockville Centre in recognition of his food donations to the Sandel Senior Center. He received an award from the NCADD Westchester for his years of untiring service and support of the council and the Humanitarian Award from the Metropolitan Chapter Hall of Fame. John served as the president of the Order of the Masons and was recently elected to the Board of the Old Guard of Westchester. He served his country as a Food Service Officer for the New York State Guard at Camp Smith in Peekskill, NY. John was active on 9/11 at Camp Smith and Ground Zero. He was a member of the 42nd Infantry “Rainbow” Division Association of the United States Army National Guard and in 2018 received the Appreciation Award in recognition of his role as Upstate Chapter Coordinator of Special Events. Major John Daskos (Ret.) was a member of the Town of Greenburgh, Veterans Advisory Committee. The Veterans Advisory Committee is dedicated to serving Veterans in our community, and throughout Westchester County. John’s primary focus was the prevention of Veteran suicides whenever possible. He thought every suicide was preventable, and would go to any length to help another Veteran. In every episode as co-host of “Veterans Helping Veterans'' on the Public Access Channel, and at every Veteran event, he would continually remind Veterans that “You Are Not Alone, We are Here For You”. John coordinated many adaptive sporting events for wounded Veterans to insure they could participate in sports with other Veterans. “Let’s Get Them Out With Other Veterans'' was his standing order to the committee. He was very active in monitoring the healthcare of our Veterans at the VA Montrose Campus, and he worked tirelessly to insure the facility received proper federal funding. John coordinated the Town Annual Veterans Barbeque that was attended by over 350 Veterans and their spouses. He worked on many food drives to insure that the Montrose Veteran’s Food Pantry would always have sufficient food available for all Veterans in need. His phone was available 24 hours a day for anyone in crisis. He was an active member of the Scarsdale American Legion Post 52, belonged to numerous Veteran organizations, and ensured that our Veterans were never forgotten in our community. John is predeceased by his wife Helen, brother George, and parents Olympia and Emanuel. He is survived by his brother Joseph Daskalakis, his daughter Maria Kohilakis (Jon) and her children Eleni, Arianna, and Melina, and son Emanuel Daskos and his children John and Eva. His grandchildren meant the world to him; his biggest joys were taking them out to restaurants, singing Greek songs, and spending every moment making memories with them. John is also survived by many nieces, nephews, sister in laws, brother in laws and many other loving relatives. John was at his happiest when he was spending time with friends, meeting new people, helping anyone in need, and giving back to his community. He always had a smile on his face and something positive to say. He was his family’s anchor and kept the stories of the past alive. As someone who truly made a difference in the lives of others during his lifetime, John will never be forgotten. He loved his family and loved life. We will miss our beloved father and grandfather immeasurably. Visiting for John will take place at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church 10 Mill Road New Rochelle, New York 10804 on Tuesday December 22, 2020 from 5:00PM-8:00PM. John's Funeral Service will take place at the Church on Wednesday December 23 at 11:00AM. He will then be Interred with his Wife Helen at Fairview Cemetery in Fairview, New Jersey. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church 10 Mill Road New Rochelle, NY 10804. May His Memory be Eternal!