Born August 5, 1926 in Reading PA, he was the son of the late Nicholas and Eva (Tretakis) Halulakos.
He was the loving husband of Anna Halulakos for 28 years.
He graduated from Reading High in 1944 where he was a Cheerleader, RHS Octet, President of Boys Glee Club, Chess Club, Student Council, Track and Cross Country.
Right after graduating from high school he enlisted in the Army. He served in WW2 with the 17th Airborne Division. John was awarded the Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, American Campaign Medal, Victory Medal, The Army of Occupation Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged in Oct. 1946.
As a young boy he worked as a newspaper carrier for the Reading Eagle. At age 16 he worked at Millers Ice Cream as a fountain clerk and part-time at the Reading Post Office.
In 1948 he joined with his family to operate the “Hallas” restaurant located at Front & Schuylkill Avenue. He attended New York University, Syracuse University, St. Peter’s College, Upper Iowa University and completed his college studies at Rutgers University. He also completed certificate studies at the American Institute of Banking, New York Institute of Finance at LaSalle Extension University and IBM Advanced Management Executive Program. He was a faculty member at Rutgers University and William & Mary College. He developed and implemented management supervisory and mutual funds training programs for companies he was associated with. He also traveled throughout the country to conduct training programs and seminars for client management companies and broker-dealer firms servicing the mutual fund industry.
In 1956 when the family sold the restaurant, he moved to NYC to pursue a career in finance and investments. He worked at First Investor Corp. as a registered rep. specializing in mutual funds. In 1961 he accepted a position with the First National Bank of Jersey City as a Mutual Fund Services Officer and then promoted to Assistant VP responsible for the data processing center. In 1970 he joined State Street Bank in Boston, MA and was VP of all Mutual Fund Shareholders Services. In 1985 he moved back to Reading and joined Knoblauch Bank as Assistant VP retiring in 1988. In 1993 he went back to work as a security guard at several companies, retiring again in 2001.
He loved bowling, starting up a league at Bowl-O-Rama in 1999 and continued till 2016. He also was an accomplished table tennis player, a sharp shooter marble player winning city district titles in 1940 & 1941, attended track events running the ½ mile and mile distances.
While serving in the Army in Germany, he won the ½ mile championship in 1945. He also loved his family and friends, traveling and gardening.
He attended Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church and was a devout and committed member serving the church whenever he could.
John was also a member of the Gust C. Kraras Chapter #61 of the Order of AHEPA.
Surviving are his wife Anna, daughter Angel Christodoulo wife of Hari, Long Island NY, daughter-in-law Ann Marie Halulakos, Mohnton. Also surviving are 4 step-children, Grace Kimtzer wife of Gary, Lititz, Dave Cory, Port Carbon, Sharon Meekes, Asheville NC and Christine Hoffecker, Schuylkill Haven, 5 grandchildren, 10 step-grandchildren and 2 step-great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a brother George and sons Nicholas and Tom.
Services to be held at Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 1001 E. Wyomissing Blvd., Reading on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 10:30 AM. A viewing will be held from 9:00 – 10:30 AM. Burial to follow at Charles Evans Cemetery, Reading PA.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown MD 21741-5014 or Heartland Hospice, 2201 Ridgewood Road – Suite 180, Wyomissing PA 19610. The family would like to express their special thanks to caregivers Cathy and Charlene for all their love and support.
Klee Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. is in charge of the arrangements. www.kleefuneralhome.com
