Bargas, Chris
Chris Bargas, age 94, of Trumbull, passed away peacefully Sunday, October 19, 2014, at his home with his loving family by his side. He was the beloved husband of 76 years of Rose (Cordone) Bargas. Chris was born in Lowell, MA on December 22, 1919, son of the late Athanasios and Lemonia (Kiourkas) Bargas, and three years later he returned with his mother and brother to their native Greece where he spent his formative years. Chris came back to Bridgeport in 1929, where he left school to work during the great depression. He married Rose and as a young adult worked as a hammer operator for Heppenstall Steel in Bridgeport before he enlisted in the US Navy and served in WWII. Chris served with distinction as a 40mm anti-aircraft gunner on the Aircraft Carrier USS Franklin in the South Pacific. He returned with honor in 1945 with 7 battle stars and a purple heart. Upon his return he opened Midway Luncheonette with his wife in Bridgeport. In 1954 he opened Capitol Realty Co. and worked as a real estate broker. He began a construction and development company that grew beyond Fairfield county to include New Haven county, Broward and Palm Beach counties, Florida, and real estate holdings in Puerto Rico. He was an original investor in the Claridge Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, and the producer of the 1961 feature film, Antigone. Over the years, Chris developed miles of roads, thousands of homes and condominiums, as well as building three golf courses, including Hillandale Country Club in Trumbull, Oronoque Village in Stratford, and Whitney Farms Golf Course in Monroe. He loved the creative process of developing land from scratch, and working with everyone involved to realize his vision. He was also a devoted family man who loved to spend time with his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family and close friends. He is the beloved father of Thomas Bargas and his wife Pamela George and James Bargas and his wife Gertrud Leuwer. He is the cherished grandfather of Lisa Bargas, Jamie Bargas, and Jill Bargas-Gold and her husband Bruce, Chris B. Bargas and his wife Jennifer Condren, Stephanie Bargas, and Elke Bargas, and great-grandfather of Jack and William Fitzmaurice, Eleni Alexandra Gold, Amelia Rose and James William Bargas. He also leaves a sister-in-law, Antoinette Caselli, several nieces and nephews, and his closest of friends, James Cormier. Chris was predeceased by his brother John Bargas. Friends may greet the family at the Riverview Funeral Home, 390 River Road, Shelton, on Wednesday from 4 to 8 PM. On Thursday, friends are invited directly to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 4070 Park Ave, Bridgeport for a Funeral Mass at 10:30 AM. Burial will follow at Nichols Farm Burial Ground in Trumbull. Memorial contributions can be made to Folds of Honor, 5800 N. Patriot Drive, Owasso, OK 74055 or through the funeral director. Offer condolences online at www.riverviewfh.com. – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ctpost/obituary.aspx?n=chris-bargas&pid=172869519&fhid=13053&eid=sp_ommatch#sthash.btnvervF.dpuf