Konstantinos Boutas passed away on December 21^st, 2023. He was the husband of Konstantina (Sarandes) Boutas and the father of Demetria Bostic and Evagelia Fabian. He was born in St. George, Greece on October 23, 1934 to Agoritsa and Vaios Boutas. He was known to his friends and family as Charlie or Kosta but his most favorite “names” were Dad, Papou (grandfather), Theo, and Brother or “Adelphe”which he and his two brothers used as terms of endearment throughout their lives.

Due to the poverty left behind from World War 2 and the death of his father from an accidental gunshot wound, he left his village at age 11 to find work in the nearby city of Larisa. He was fortunately taken in by a local restaurateur and allowed to help the kitchen staff in exchange for receiving a couple meals each day. For him, this was a golden opportunity to prove himself and he slowly worked his way up to becoming an assistant cook and then the lead cook and earning a fair wage which he would share with his mother and siblings when he would visit home. During his time in the city, Charlie would take every opportunity to play soccer and volleyball and with only a third grade education, used his love of sports to further his reading and writing skills by reading the sports section of any newspaper he could find. This was also a technique that he used when he came to the United States to help teach himself how to read and write in English.

When he became 18, he enlisted for his mandatory service in the Greek Army and spent time in many different parts of Greece and Turkey. His cooking skills were instantly recognized and he made his way all the way up to Head cook for the Officers Club. He was always very proud of that and considered it an honor to be chosen. Cooking to him was about the joy he received in seeing others, especially his family and friends, enjoy the food he prepared.

Charlie arrived by ship to New York City in the winter of 1961 and he spent the rest of his life in Brockton and West Yarmouth. He married Konstantina Sarandes in July 1962 and they went on to have two daughters, Demetria and Evagelia. He and his brother Serafim sponsored their younger brother, Bill and later their Mother, Agoritsa Boutas and their sister and her husband, Despina and Evagelos Nikolakakos with their two sons to come to the US so the entire family could be together because being surrounded by family meant everything to them.

Charlie spent many years in the drywall and construction businesses and later transitioned his efforts to the dry cleaning business. He worked in his Middleboro store, CT Dry Cleaners, from early 1993 until his retirement in early 2022. Charlie’s goal everyday was to try to make all his customers happy. Folks would often remind him that you can’t always make everyone happy but he would say, “maybe not BUT I can try.” He was so very well known in the Town of Middleboro that the family would jokingly call him the mayor because he couldn’t go to a store or restaurant without encountering someone he knew.

Charlie’s love of sports didn’t end in his youth. He became a fan of watching American football and baseball but was so excited when “cable” TV became available and he could watch soccer from all over the world. His love of sports was most obvious when he would cheer on his three grandchildren. Nicole, Niko and Dean were his pride and joy and somehow, he managed to make it to just about every soccer, basketball and baseball game that the three of them played which included Nicole’s game schedule the four years she played basketball for Framingham State College. He became known as Papou to all his grandkid’s friends and their parents. Even coaches respected his commitment to his grandkids but also his silent spectator ways. He would always stress to his grandkids that their coaches deserved the utmost respect and that only hard work can truly make you a great player.

 Even well into his 80’s, Charlie would be seen playing outside almost every day with his great nephews Andrew and Anthony. His special bond with them was never more obvious than his relationship with Anthony who he would say was his best friend. The two would often be seen just sitting on the porch discussing everything or spending their summer evenings watering the flowers and plants together and talking about life. Only Andrew, however, could get “Papou Kosta” to burst into song and dance at any moment as the two enjoyed listening to both old and new Greek songs together.

Charlie will be missed by so many. He was friend to everyone who met him because he genuinely cared about people and had a gentle way about him. He believed that everyone deserved his kindness everyday, no matter what and was a big supporter of the concept of turning the other cheek.

 Kosta is survived by his wife Tina (Sarandes) Boutas of Brockton; his daughter Demetria (Mimi) Bostic and her partner Thad Tirrell of Raynham; his granddaughter Nicole Bostic Johnson and her husband Mitchell Johnson of Taunton; his daughter Evagelia (Lia) Fabian and her husband Jay Fabian of Lakeville; his grandson Niko Fabian and his wife Abigail Keith Fabian of Middleboro; and his grandson Dean Fabian and his partner Dana Scalzi of Quincy. He is also survived by his sister, Despina Nikolakakos of Randolph; his brother Bill Boutas of Brockton; his sister-in-law Fotini Boutas of Canton and many nieces and nephews.

 Calling hours will be on Wednesday January 3^rd from 3-7 p.m. at Russell Funeral Home, 165 Belmont Street, Brockton MA and the Funeral will be on Thursday, January 4^th 2024 beginning at 11:00 am at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church 457 Oak Street, Brockton MA. Internment will be at Melrose Cemetery immediately following the Church Service.