Southborough – Paul C. Badavas, 76, of Southborough, died Sunday, March 16, 2014, at home with his family at his side.
Paul was born in 1937 in the village of Thoknia, county of Megalopolis, state of Arcadia, Greece. He was the son of the late Christos P. and Vasiliki (Pechilis) Badavas and of his beloved stepmother Maria (Giorgada) Badavas.
He immigrated to the United States of America Feb. 7, 1956 and became a naturalized citizen in 1961. He could always be found with a copy of the Constitution of his adopted country in his briefcase and was forever thankful for the support of his dear aunt and uncle who brought him to America.
Paul graduated from Brockton High School, class of 1959. While in school, he worked nights, weekends and summers ironing and pressing women's coats in a garment factory.? He received a B.S. in 1963 and a M.S. in 1965 in Electrical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He also received a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering in 1969 from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.
For over 30 years, Paul worked for the Foxboro Company in Foxboro. He started in the research department and spent several years with the company before joining the development department, from which he retired in 2000. He published over two dozen papers and a book, and was granted a number of patents. In 1998, he was selected the Foxboro Company's Inventor of the Year and was inducted in the Corporate Division of the Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio.
Paul helped organize the Southborough soccer program and was its president for a number of years. Many people will remember him for the years he coached boys and girls soccer teams. He also volunteered for the Northborough/Southborough Music Association, and was its president for a year.
Paul shared 48 years of marriage with the love of his life, Judith (Outten) Badavas, who survives him. He is survived by his son, Christos P. Badavas and his wife Sarah of Sunnyside, N.Y., and his daughter, Elizabeth Badavas Vassiliou and her husband Christophoros of Albany, Calif. He was the loving grandfather of Paul and Thomas, and Angeliki, Panagiotis, Baby Boy, and Twinnie. He is survived by his brothers, Bill Badavas and Steve Badavas, both of Brockton, John Badavas and his wife Karen of Raynham, and Dimitrios Badavas and his wife Toula, of Athens, Greece; his sister, Vicky Livas, of Athens, Greece; his brother-in-law, Richard Outten of Chicago; and four nieces and seven nephews.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to call Thursday, March 20, from 4 – 7 p.m., at the Morris Funeral Home, 40 Main St., Southborough. A liturgy in Paul's memory will be celebrated Friday, March 21, at 10:30 a.m., at Saints Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church, 9 Central St., Marlborough. Burial will follow be in the Southborough Rural Cemetery.
Memorial Donations may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215-5450, or to the Building Fund of Saints Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church, PO Box 381, Marlborough, MA 01752.
To leave words of condolence to the family, please visit www.morrisfuneralparlor.com.
