Emmanuel "Mike" Janaros

Emmanuel "Mike" Janaros passed away Monday June 1, 2015 at Newport Hospital surrounded by his family. He was known to many as Mike. He was born in Manchester, NH on November 13, 1916 to Peter (Panagiotis) Janaros and Sofia Viakrelis both originally from Mytilene, Greece. Mike was 98 years old.Mike Janaros lived in Newport from the time he was three years old after the family moved from Boston and to Brockton to settle on the island. Across the expanse of his treasured life story, he befriended many in the community and was recognized everywhere he went. Mike was a 1936 graduate of Rogers High School Industrial where he especially enjoyed wrestling and track. As a team light weight at 123lbs., he was so strong he wrestled out of his weight class at 135 lbs. Mike continued his education at the United States Diesel School in Boston, MA, where he met his future wife, Mary Pappas, in Watertown, MA.His father, Peter, was a partner in the Rhode Island Lunch which was a popular fast food hub located at the edge of City Hall on Broadway. Even as a young school boy, Mike would be dispatched to peeling 50 lbs of potatoes, sometimes before school. The RI Lunch was known as a Greek restaurant which was famous for their hot cheese sandwiches and hot dogs sold right out the back window to car loads of teenagers after sporting events and the cinema. Mike worked there with his father for many years and was well known to fire and police teams who were also fed at all hours. He was no stranger to 14 hour workdays.In the early 1940's Mike opened the Star Lunch on Broadway which later became the Bartis family's business for 50 years. Today, that space is "Norey's" and still retains the star in its logo. After leaving the Star Lunch, he held several machinist and boat mechanic positions but eventually, he went fishing.Michael was a lobsterman who was recently honored by his family on the occasion of his 98th birthday with the dedication of a park bench on Long Wharf where his fishing boat, Kismet, was moored for many years. Eventually, Mike traded in his fisherman's cap for a white shirt and an apron and became a partner in the Satelite Restaurant on Broadway. He was adored by his grandchildren and a niece, Cris Castonguay Hartley, for his special meals designed just for them. On one special occasion, the Blizzard of 78 to be specific, a city plow cleaned out his front door so a police car could get Mike to the restaurant and open up the Satelite because the snowplow crews and other municipal workers needed hot coffee and food. In many ways, the Satelite was the canteen for the Newport Bridge construction crews, too, as well as homesick young sailors who would send Mike post cards from ports of call all around the world. Mike retired from the restaurant business at the age of 65. Mike Janaros was well known for his imaginative woodworking, carpentry talents, and his love of Greek music. While the demands of the restaurant commanded his hours and energy, he still found time to remodel a family home on Houston Avenue. No project was too difficult for him to tackle. He loved to spend time in his woodshop with numerous projects underway, all in various stages of completion. And, we always knew where he was because the Greek music would be playing loudly from the garage or basement, or from under a truck he was building. Mike continued his love of fishing from the rocks of Ocean Drive with many companions of similar passion. He could name all the various outcroppings of rock as though they were old friends such as Butterball, or Mummichuck and knew which old fisherman belonged to which spot. Mike's spot was Graves Point just a quarter mile west from JK's. His love of Greek music followed Mike throughout his life. At social events featuring bouzouki music, he would take to the floor in the lead position and entertain everyone with his elaborate execution of traditional Greek dances. He was impressively light on his feet. In his later years, he would drive his wife, Mary, around Ocean Drive in their car with an American flag firmly planted on the antenna. The Greek music went on when the ignition key was turned. And, when other family drivers were needed, the traditional ride around Ocean Drive and Blue Rocks was still accompanied by Greek bouzouki music to which he often sang along. Those rides always ended up with a hot coffee at Ma's Donuts where he greeted many friends. Michael Janaros was predeceased in this life by his wife, Mary Pappas Janaros, to whom he was married for 67 years. His sisters, Mary Castonguay and Bella Ternes also predeceased him. Michael was a lifelong parishioner of Saint Spyridon's Greek Orthodox Church and was a proud member of the AHEPA.Mike is survived by his four children: Tina Fowler and Frank, Sofi Cofield and Clyde (Kip), Peter M. Janaros P.E. and Diane (Marcucci), and Joanne Cadenazzi. There are 8 grandchildren who were proud to call him "Papou" including Michael H. Cofield (who shared his birthday with his grandfather and great-grandfather, Peter J.), Michael C. Fowler Ph.D., Stephen C. Cofield, Maria C.A. Fowler, Col. Jason M. Janaros, Michael Cadenazzi Jr., Marisa Cadenazzi Moore, Peter J. Janaros as well as 15 beautiful great-grandchildren and greatly loved nephews and nieces.Friends and family may pay their respects on Thursday, June 4, 2015, from 4-7pm in the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport.A vigil will be held on Friday, June 5, 2015, at St. Spyridon's Greek Orthodox Church from 10am to 11am, his service will begin at 11am.Burial will follow in Middletown Cemetery, Turner and Wyatt Road, Middletown, RI.Donations in his memory may be made to the Philoptochos Society, PO Box 427, Newport, RI 02840. Cemetery Details Middletown Four Corners Cemetery Turner and Wyatt Roads Middletown, RI, 02842 Visitation JUN 4. 04:00 PM - 07:00 PM Memorial Funeral Home 375 Broadway Newport, RI, US, 02840 info@memorialfuneralhome.com http://www.memorialfuneralhome.com Visitation JUN 5. 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM St. Spyridon Church 390 Thames Street Newport, RI, US Service JUN 5. 11:00 AM St. Spyridon Church 390 Thames Street Newport, RI, US