From Billie Stathes Wills

I was devastated upon hearing the news about Cokie. I was so looking forward to their visit after the cruise.
My dearest oldest and best friend. Where do I begin? I was five and he was six when we met. I remember it well. I and several other children were waiting in an anteroom for our mothers who were in a Filoptohos meeting. Cokie was in charge of keeping us quiet. Instead this blue eyed blond little boy was entertaining us with his magical fingers- making little designs and flipping them around. He was such a cute little boy. He had us in an uproar.

And so it was for the rest of his memorable life. There was always a smile, always a quip, always a help, always fun. Never was there anger nor worry. Cokie always had a solution or an answer to another's problem. It was uncanny-ESP. He was there when needed without being asked.

Cokie loved his family and friends. He adored and was devoted to Bebe, his wife of seventy odd years. He was always thinking of ways to surprise her and make her happy.

He also loved automobiles. He always had the flashiest and the best. He treated the cars as off springs!

Cokie was loyal, dependable and trustworthy. Wherever he may be now, he is spreading joy.

I have lost my truest friend.

We will all miss him.

From Jorge Alfaro

Papou was like a grandfather to me as well as my God Father, and without a doubt I can say he was a great role model while I was growing up and an excellent father figure. Aside from the discipline and responsibility that he instilled in me as a kid, I can remember fondly his endless humor and compassion towards family and friends.

I remember how he was able to entertain my friends at home or at the beach house, especially during breakfast and dinner. They would always get a laugh at his antics with food or his jokes.

Anyone who met Papou would usually walk away with a smile (an unsuspecting waitress at Jimmy’s) and be amazed at his enthusiasm for life even at his age (Diann & Wayne Short at Short Brothers Market).

So many memories of him-like the early Saturday bike rides to the donut shop in Bethany, for of course, the jelly filled or éclair donuts. Plus who can forget the proclaimed, “most famous hot cakes on the Eastern Shore”?

I can also remember us on the tractor early in the morning during winter, and the hot Cocoa that he prepared to get us warm, as well as our autumn afternoons in the yard raking leaves or cutting wood.

Luckily my wife and in-laws had the opportunity to enjoy Papou. One of the recent memories I will be able to cherish is Papou along with Mama Bebe and Aunt Patsy being at my wedding in Guatemala. Something I will remember for as long as I will live.

I guess I can understand now that life should be enjoyed to the fullest, and the more our happiness is shared with others the better off we are.

Papou always was the perfect example of that old adage of “try, try again” since he would never be defeated by an electrical or plumbing problem. He would always find a way to fix things around the house even if it seemed impossible. Now I realize that he showed me- in his own way- that life is not always easy or perfect, and that I have to get my elbows dirty once in a while to get things accomplished.

Papou will forever have a special place in my heart and memory not only for taking me under his wing and allowing me to be like a grandson to him but for the unconditional love he demonstrated.

This picture happened when my in-laws were in Potomac last year, and my mother in law took her plate away so Papou could not put more food on it. Suddenly he took out this normal looking fork and started extending it. It was a blast!!

From Marthann Cibel Secrist

The Cokinos family and the Cibel family became 'one' when Patsy & my brother, Anthony (Tony) got married on June 27th, 1959. We all came to love and adore Patsy. George & Bebe were an added bonus. I got to know them while Anthony & Patsy were living in Rockville and even better after they moved to Bethesda.

I consider Patsy my second sister. As for George, he was one of the nicest people I've ever known. After I lost my Dad, George told me he knew no one could ever take his place but he volunteered to do whatever he could - if I ever needed him. A true gentleman - always stood up when a female entered the room.

His humor was a bit on the kookie side - Phil & I were at the beach house with them & Patsy one summer years ago. The first morning we gathered for breakfast and what a breakfast! In front of George was a plate piled high with an amazing assortment of donuts. George picked up each and every one while licking and saying "I want them all, and this is the only way I can keep anyone else from eating them!"

He loved his home in Potomac and any given weekend you could find him outside chopping, cleaning up brush, or riding on one of his motorized 'farm' vehicles. He took pride in his homes. He could fix anything! Always puttering, painting, fixing this or that.

He had the most wonderful sense of family of almost any man I've ever known. They were always first in his thoughts and actions. Bebe was his life-long love. They were best friends as well . Whenever I was in any of their homes they made me feel as though I "belonged" there.

George lived life to the fullest. He was doing just what he wanted when he was so critically injured : with Bebe and Patsy - on the sea -tanned and looking about 30 years younger that he was.

He will be remembered by all of us as a wonderful, loving man - for a very, very long time.

From Pat Cibel

A Few of My Thoughts About Dad

There were the phone calls that would come out of the blue:

"Pat, would you do me a BIG favor....Please break it to your mother that I have

invited a few neighbors in for dinner."

Our many chats around the pool at Sunrise Condo were so revealing about his struggles through out life or successes and failures in business, and how proud he was of his Greek heritage. He had an ability to put things into perspective-to mend fences and to let go of past transgressions.

How will I ever be able to buy another car without him?

How lucky we all were to have him for so long. The legacy he leaves with his 11 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren will live on. His hard work ethics, his honesty,his kindness and love of family was instilled in all of us from the oldest to the youngest.

My last fun thought of Dad was on the ill fated cruise ship. We were enjoying our favorite Latin band when he said, "Let's practice the Cha-Cha." We went to a spot nearby and did our thing until he said, "I've got it now."

He never really lost it.

I will miss our times together.

I will miss his kindness, his generosity and most of all, his unspoken love which

I felt every day of my life.

Dad- you were indeed special. You made my world a better place.

Thanks for a lifetime of memories.