Emmanuel Bizanis, 82

Emmanuel Bizanis, 82, of Knob Hill Drive, Hamden passed away on Sept. 14,. 2012 in the Connecticut Hospice, Branford. He was the husband of Zoe Eliopoulos Bizanis.

Mr. Bizanis was born in Leros, Greece on Nov. 14, 1929, son of the late Stamatios and Margarita Bizanis. Before coming to this country, Mr. Bizanis traveled the world as a ship's chief engineer. He served in the Royal Greek Navy and the Greek Merchant Marine.

He received a certificate of appreciation from the groups that later formed the State of Israel because of his service aboard "The City of Athens", one of the first ships to transport Jewish refugees to Israel.In June of 1952, he was part of a hand picked crew that brought King Paul I of Greece to Constantinople, Turkey aboard the "Elli".

Prior to his retirement, he was plant engineer at Southern Connecticut State University.

Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Stamatios (Cristina Fuoco) Bizanis of Cheshire; a daughter, Athena Bizanis of New York City; a sister, Efthimia (Antonios) Hatziantoniou of Athens; and 11 nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Phillipos Bizanis.

Friends may call a The Celentano Funeral Home, 424 Elm St. (cor. Dwight) New Haven, on Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. and are invited to attend funeral services at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 480 Racebrook Rd., Orange Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be in Beaverdale Memorial Park.

Contributions may be made to St. Barbara Church Building Fund or to the Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Rd., Branford, CT 06405. www.celentanofuneralhome.com.