John A. Anthonakes ’51 died on September 18, 2018, in Duxbury, Massachusetts.

(The following was published in the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram on September 19, 2018):

John A. Antonakes, 90, of Duxbury, formerly of Needham and Falmouth, passed away on September 18, 2018.

John, son of the late Paula and Anthony Antonakes, was born and raised in Lynn, Mass. He was a graduate of Lynn Classical High School and Bowdoin College, Class of 1951. He served his country in the Army Air Corp during WWII at Hickam Air Base in Hawaii. He then distinguished himself with a forty-year career at Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. As vice president, he was frequently credited for his role in enacting workers’ compensation reform in many states. He was appointed as insurance representative on the Mass WC Advisory Council, was a chairman of the WC Committee for the Alliance of American Insurers and a lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Public Health. He also chaired the Needham Republican Town Committee, and was a member on the board of trustees of the Deaconess Glover Hospital. He enjoyed skiing until the age of 85, boating, golfing, bowling, and traveling.

He was the beloved husband of sixty-two years to the late Helen Marines. He is survived by his loving daughters, Joanne Cameron Cushing and her husband Mark of Duxbury, and Jane Dakers and her fiancé Lou Pollock of Portland. He leaves his adored grandchildren, Adam Dakers and his wife Katie, Sara Cameron Baldwin and her husband Mike, Michael Dakers and his wife Jennifer, TJ Cameron; and his great-granddaughter Alayla Dakers. John was the close brother of Mike Antonakes and his wife Elaine, Agnes Ricko and her husband Al, and the late George Antonakes and his wife Esther. He also leaves many nieces and nephews; and four step-granddaughters.

“Mr. A” will mostly be remembered for his love and devotion to his family and friends. A reliable, funny, and loving man, John will leave his legacy of kindness to all to those who knew him.