Marlborough – William John Goltsis (“Bill”) was born in 1930 in the village of Agia Trias, Almyrou, Greece and arrived in America in 1953 in a whirlwind romance with Aspasia Daopoulos (“Bess”) of Marlborough. They were inseparable up to his death Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017.
In his youth against a backdrop of WW2 and the Greek civil war, he experienced danger and loss, but also loyalty and love. He completed his education in Athens, joined the Greek Air Force, and trained as a meteorologist. Once in the U.S., Bill quickly learned, then taught, English and worked many years as a draftsman, artist-illustrator, and technical writer.
He made 20 trips to Greece, bringing his family here together with his father and brothers and many friends and cousins. He taught his children and then his grandson how to win at backgammon, aspects of meteorology, and history in general; they liked to listen and loved his company. He loved walking to the library with his grandson for Story Hour, delighting him with amazingly accurate weather predictions. He was widely read and loved learning. His barbecues were a longtime feature of summer. At one time, he was active in Saints Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church and an Ahepan.
He is profoundly missed by his wife; children Constance, Eleni and John; son-in-law Elias; grandson Galaxias; and close friends.
There will be no hours or services here and he will be buried in Greece. A memorial gathering will be held Thursday, March 9 in Marlborough. For those who are asking, donations in his memory might be made to St Jude’s Research Hospital.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Fitzgerald & Collins Funeral Home. All are welcome to sign Bill’s online guestbook at www.CollinsFuneral.com.
