Peabody, MA — Anthony Koutzoukis, 88, a retired Peabody Deputy Fire Chief and a decorated WWII Army Veteran, passed away on Tuesday at the NSMC Salem Hospital ICU with his family at his side. He was the devoted husband of 65 years to Esther (Booras) Koutzoukis. He was born of immigrant parents on January 17, 1925, to Peter and Mary (Lemneos) Koutzoukis and was a lifelong Peabody resident and very proud of his city. He graduated from Peabody High School and attended a year of college at Northeastern University before entering the U.S. Army as a combat soldier on April 21, 1943. He fought from Normandy Beach to Omaha Beach to Czechoslovakia and was discharged on December 21, 1945. Tony was a recipient of the Bronze Medal and later named a “Chevalier” of the Legion of Honor in 2006, an honor bestowed upon him by the President of the French Republic for "unforgettable gratitude and appreciation." Upon his discharge, he first worked in the Tanneries in Peabody before joining the Peabody Fire Department. He served there for 32 years, retiring as a Deputy Fire Chief receiving many commendations. Tony was an active member of St. Vasilios Church working on many projects, to name a few, restoring the Greek School, and serving as a member of the Board. He also received an award for his tireless efforts for the deceased veterans of the parish. Every Veterans Day, for more than a decade, he was instrumental in honoring those veterans with a ceremony and a breakfast. Just recently, he was involved in a project trying to get handicap ramps established in the church and Education Center. He had been an active member and past commander of the VFW Post 1011 of Peabody and a past commander of the Peabody Veterans Council. Tony was also a member of the Jordan Lodge A.F. & A.M, worked for many years with the Peabody Red Cross and was very active in creating the East End Park in honor of the Veterans of Peabody. He periodically did talks at the schools recounting his experiences during WWII. He received a Certificate of Appreciation from the school children of Peabody. He received the Pride of Peabody Award and the Eleanor Frothingham Smith Award along with many other awards over the years. He was a very generous man not only giving donations, but giving of his time. Tony left a legacy of helping many people in so many ways. Even though he was disabled, he worked tirelessly for them from his kitchen table and his speaker phone, which his family fondly referred to as "Command Central." Besides his wife, Esther, he is survived by a son, Peter A. Koutzoukis of Rowley; 2 daughters and sons-in-law, Mary and William Caico of Salem and Emily and Fernando Pereira of Plymouth, Mass.; a sister and brother-in-law, Orania and Edward Barry of Somerset, Mass.; 7 grandchildren, Nicole (Caico) Allain and her husband, Jason, of Danvers, Christina (Caico) Dattoli and her husband, Joseph, of Woburn, Anthony Koutzoukis of Yokohama, Japan, Alexander Koutzoukis of Somerville and Tara, Eric and Megan Pereira, all of Plymouth; and many nieces, nephews, godchildren and many close friends. He was fondly referred to as "Puppy" by his grandchildren and spending time with them and his family was the true joy in his life. He was the brother of the late Ernest P. Koutzoukis.
