Spyridon "Peter" T. Kaplanes

WORCESTER - Spyridon “Peter” Thomas Kaplanes fell asleep in our Lord on September 3, 2022, surrounded by his family. He was an energetic, sharp, and humor-full 88-year-old. He is greeted in paradise by his father Thomas Spyridon, mother Maria (Karabinas), both of Finiki, Greece; sister Helen Gazonas and baby sister Efrosini Walker; sister-in-law Barbara Belisle and her husband Rene. He leaves his ever-beautiful and saintly-strong wife of 57 years, Dianna (Vasil); his son, The Honorable Thomas S. Kaplanes and his wife Alison of Canton; daughter Kasandra Branson and her husband Donald of Natick; and daughter Stefany Kaplanes and her husband Ronell Jones of Lafayette, CA. He leaves seven back-scratchers and head massagers who loved their Papou: Illias, Antonio, Zenai, Nicholas, Alexandra, Lukas, and Markus. He also leaves sisters Aspasia Kontinos of Fort Myers, FL and Connie Constantine of Hyannis as well as several nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews who he adored, and first cousins back in the villages of Greece. His friends, buddies, and school-teaching proteges are too many to name. Lastly, he leaves dozens of faded pink plastic flamingos, several species of decoy ducks and gulls, sailors and captain figurines, plaster Greek goddess statues, and lawn bunnies and froggies to stand guard over both homes.

Born in Worcester in 1934, he attended South High School. He later went on to graduate from Lycoming College and received his master’s in education from Worcester State College. He was a legend in the City of Worcester Public School system – having taught junior high for over 45 years – where his students happily called him "Sir". He loved being in the classroom and sometimes the children in them. His self-revised course syllabus was ancient Greek history (which caused many a department-head to wonder, "isn't he supposed to teach a General Social Studies class?"). Peter was a hard worker and a Worcester entrepreneur. Throughout his school years he worked hard alongside his father at the Arora Hotel. As an adult he managed the family business, Cedar House Apartments, and was a co-owner of the Central Kitchen restaurant. Spiro was a devoted member of Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Worcester, donating regularly to the needs of the church and the people within it, as well as a member of the Order of the AHEPA. Christ was his cornerstone. At Easter service no small child or frail grandmother could keep him from rushing the altar to be the first to receive The Light with his candle at midnight.

Papou loved gathering the whole family for cookouts and cocktails at the Cape. He was a legitimate sunworshipper and West Dennis Beach was his temple. As a connoisseur of sun lotions and oils, Hawaiian Tropic, Coppertone, and Bane De Soleil ranked the highest. He was a man of the sea; if he wasn't snorkeling to find a stinky conch shell to hang on the garage, he was engaged in a heated contest of "wild bronco" with both of his daughters. He took great pride in the maintenance of his yards, often stating that "Best Houses and Gardens" ought to come by to photograph his work. He was mowing the lawn and planting/re-planting until the end. He loved snowblowing and would dare Mother Nature to try to get the snow to accumulate faster than he could plow it off of "his" sidewalk. He cherished his many trips back to Greece to vacation and visit family. Stateside, if an unsuspecting person asked if he had ever visited his homeland, it would be three hours of that person's life they would never get back. Peter's most beloved inanimate object was undoubtedly his fire-engine-red convertible Corvette. He bought it new in 1962, much to the chagrin of his then ring-less girlfriend (and future wife). He loved his occasional drives and would always ask us, "are they smiling and waving at me or the 'Vette?" Dad was a huge Patriots and Red Sox fan. Watching a game with him, however, was a test of team loyalty, for to him no lead was sustainable and no deficit was overcomable. He never thought he’d see a Red Sox World Series trophy or Patriots Super Bowl win, but he did. His beloved wife Dianna will miss puttering around the yard with him, dancing in the kitchen with him, but most of all his radiant smile and playfulness. He knew he led a great life.

Visiting hours will be held on Friday, September 9th, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden and again on Saturday, September 10th, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 102 Russell St. Worcester. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 AM on Saturday at Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral. If you wish to remember Spyridon, donations may be made to the “St. Spyridon Cathedral Sunday School Program, 01609” Arrangements are under the direction of Philip G. Haddad, Jr. of Miles Funeral Home.

To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit his tribute wall.

MAY HIS MEMORY BE ETERNAL