WWII veteran T.W. Kyrkostas dies at 85

Theodore William Kyrkostas was proud to be a Greek-American and even more honored to have served in the Navy during World War II.

Kyrkostas, a 50-year Little Neck resident, died of Alzheimer's complications Wednesday. He was 85.

"He was always a smiling guy," said his eldest son, Theo Kyrkostas 62, of Sea Cliff. "He was always very positive."

Born in Manhattan on March 13, 1926, Kyrkostas was raised in Astoria and attended the neighborhood's Bryant High School. He was the third son of five children born to Greek immigrants Vasili and Mary Kyrkostas of Smyrna.

In the summer of 1943, Kyrkostas saw many of the neighborhood boys going off to war, including two of his brothers. Not wanting to be left behind, he enlisted, too, his son said.

"In those days, everybody wanted to join the service to protect our country," Theo Kyrkostas said. "For them, it was like going to college."

Three weeks out of boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Training Base, Kyrkostas was sent to the South Pacific, where Japanese kamikazes attacked his ship. Kyrkostas saw many friends get killed, but the ship survived and saw action all over the Pacific, including the Philippines, Guam and Australia, his son said.

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"It was really tough on him," Theo Kyrkostas said. "He was only a 17-year-old kid. He didn't talk about it much."

Theodore Kyrkostas went on to open Liberty News Distributors in the 1960s, an international print-distribution company, with his eldest brother. When he retired at 55, Kyrkostas became the supreme governor of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, a Greek-American organization.

"He always believed in the Greeks and the Americans coming together," Theo Kyrkostas said. "He wanted to give back to Greece and help Greek people."

A memorial service was held last night at Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs in Bayside. His funeral, also at the church, is Monday at 11 a.m. In addition to his son, Theo, he is survived by his wife, Margaret C. Tellalian-Kyrkostas, 81, of Little Neck; a daughter, Peggy O'Hanlon, 55, of Port Washington; a sister, Penny Martakis, 70; and four grandchildren.

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In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Long Island Alzheimer's Foundation.