Leo J. Tsokalas

Leo J. Tsokalas, 88, of Wethersfield, formerly of Manchester beloved husband of 59 years to Rita (Husarik) Tsokalas passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 6, 2015 with his family by his side. Born in Bridgeport, CT on the 12th of November 1926 to Greek immigrants Helen and James Tsokalas, Leo grew up in Bridgeport with a love for art and a love for the water. As a young boy he spent many days in the many parks of the city watching the boats and ships come and go. When he was just ten years
old, he was inspired enough to have drawn a picture of then Mayor Jasper McLeevey and had that picture published in The Bridgeport Post. It would be the first of many times his art would be on display. While still attending Central High, Leo enlisted in the Navy prior to his graduation as so many others did at a time when our country was at war, and became a member of the Sea Bees. After his basic training in 1943, he was subsequently stationed at various posts and carried the rank of Coxswain on a destroyer. He was also stationed in the Philippine Islands where he ran a desalination plant among other duties.
It was his love of the water and his creativity that had lead to his invention that involved the stabilization of sea -going vessels and or helicopters. After his time in the Navy, Leo went to the Paier, Art School on the GI Bill. He then had an art studio in Bridgeport where he painted many portraits. In the years following, Leo and his wife Rita moved to Manchester where his passion for art continued in his work. He proudly worked for many years as a draftsman for Sikorsky Aircraft, Stanley Tools, Combustion Engineering, Hamilton Standard and Morrison Knudsen. He opened another art studio in downtown Hartford and painted there for several years. His art also took him into many courtrooms in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York. He was a courtroom artist who could capture not only a rendering of the person he was drawing, but also the mood of the court at the time. He felt privileged in that he was allowed to witness some of the state's most famous criminal trials at a time when cameras were not allowed in the courtrooms. As an artist, he had captured some of the state's most notorious criminals on paper in his drawings. His renowned work hangs on the walls of many offices around the state and has been shown on several occasions at various galleries through art shows and the like.
Leo will always be known as a kind and honest man with a warm smile who was never happier than when he was with his family. He instilled in all of us a set of values that placed family and honesty above all. He was a communicant of St George Greek Orthodox Church in Hartford, and was very proud to have painted a portrait of the late Father James Demetriades. He was a lifetime member of the Ct Air Museum. In addition to his wife Rita, he is survived by his two daughters and sons-in-law, Elaine and Ben Carlton of Madison, CT, and Mary and Peter Susca of Wethersfield, his three sons and daughters-in-law Christopher and Lee Tsokalas of Andover, John Tsokalas and Lois Natolly of Jesup, GA and Nicholas and Rebecca Tsokalas of Buford, GA. He had nine wonderful grandchildren, five great grandchildren and three nephews; James Tsokalas, Anthony Tsokalas and William Lorenzo. Leo's family also includes several cousins in Greece as well. Leo was pre deceased by his parents, his brother Socrates, his sister Mary and two nephews, Michael Lorenzo and David Husarik. Leo's family would like to extend a thank you to the doctors, nurses and especially his aides; Carmen, Marlene and Maxine from Salmon Brook in Glastonbury for their kind and compassionate care as well as his dear friend George Sercombe for his devotion, compassion and friendship. Calling hours will be held on Monday, January 12, 2015 from 5-8 pm at Holmes Funeral Home, 400 Main St. Manchester with the Trisagio Service at 7 pm. Funeral services will be on Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 11:00 am at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 433 Fairfield Ave. Hartford. Everyone is asked to go directly to the Cathedral. Burial with Military Honors will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. Memorial contributions may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163-4777 or at Michaeljfox.org or to St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral. To leave an online condolence please visit www.holmes-watkinsfuneralhomes.com



Visitation DetailsMonday, January 12th, 2015 5:00pm - 8:00pmService DetailsTuesday, January 13th, 2015 11:00am, St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Interment DetailsCedar Hill Cemetery