October 5, 2012  

LOWVILLE, N.Y.  —  James Harry Arvanites, 91, passed away peacefully at his home under the care of his family and Lewis County Hospice on Sunday, Sept. 30. 

He was born Aug. 5, 1921, in Goshen, the son of Greek immigrants Harry and Anna Arvanites.

Jimmy was raised in the family confectionary business in Goshen and then Middletown. He graduated from Middletown High School and attended Oswego State Teachers College. World War II interrupted and in 1942 he was stationed in the Aleutian Islands where he remained for the duration of the war.

After the war, Jimmy married his childhood sweetheart, Dorothy Jones, and finished college. 

He taught industrial arts in the Middletown School System. Dorothy and he had five children.

In 1962 the family moved to Lowville where Jimmy established what became BOCES Technical Vocational School. He then attended graduate school and became assistant director at BOCES in Valhalla. The family returned to Lowville where Jim became the director of Jeff – Lewis BOCES, retiring in 1975.

He and his son Jim established and operated Suzuki North in Copenhagen, and later in Watertown.

Jim enjoyed his many boats, traveling and his family.

Surviving are his five children, Dorothy and Steve Monnat, Lowville, Jane Arvanites Albany, James Mark and Colleen Arvanites, Lowville; Andrea and Dennis Lee, Lowville, and Dokson and Gale Arvanites, South Pasadena, Calif.; 10 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren. 

He was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy.

A memorial service at Trinity Episcopal Church will be announced at a later date.

Memorials in Jim’s name may be made to: Friends of Lewis County Hospice, Inc., P.O. Box 266, Lowville, NY 13367.

Online condolences may be made to www.sundquistfh.com.






Information provided by Sundquist Funeral Home of Lowville and Newzjunky, Watertown, N.Y.