Tina (Daskalos) Kostaras passed away on January 18, 2018 surrounded by her family.
Educating the children of the Boston Public Schools was Tina Kostaras’ mission in life. She moved to Boston after her marriage to her late husband, George J. Kostaras in the 1950s to raise a family and, at the same time, to pursue her passion for the education of children. For over 30 years, she worked as a para-professional at the Washington Irving Middle School and earlier as a Greek language bilingual teaching aide at the Mattahunt Elementary School when Greek immigrant children were still arriving in Boston.
Tina’s greatest joy in her work was tutoring middle school children from Boston, often growing up in poverty and the culture of gang violence. Tina grew up in Manchester, NH during the Great Depression and WWII. At the age of 14 she lost her mother due to complications of childbirth. Motivated by the trauma of losing a parent at such a young age, she devoted herself, in particular, to public school kids whose parents were absent in their lives.
Tina was devoted to her family, especially her grandchildren, Susana, Cristina, Samantha and Michael, always impressing them with the value of education. Mrs. Kostaras leaves her son, James G. Kostaras and his wife Margarita, and her daughter, Stephanie Pellegrino and her husband Tony; her grandchildren, Susie Brady and her husband Brian, Cristina Kostaras, Michael Kostaras, and Samantha Pellegrino and her fiancé Zach Ralston. She was predeceased by her sister, Irene Vallas. Sister in law of Arthur Kostaras and Rena Pantages. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. A funeral service will be held on Monday, January 22nd at 10AM at St. John The Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, 15 Union Park St., Boston, MA. Visiting hours will be Sunday, January 21st 1PM-4PM at William J. Gormley Funeral Home, 2055 Centre St., WEST ROXBURY,MA 02132. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) in memory of Tina Kostaras ( https://www.iocc.org).
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