John J. Gianakakis

John Gianakakis, 77, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on April 5, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.  A lifelong resident of Ipswich, John was born at Cable Hospital on September 7, 1948. He was the son of the late Charles (Solly) Gianakakis and Florence (Yeannakopoulos) Gianakakis.

John is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Elaine (Griffin) Gianakakis; his daughter, Sandra (Gianakakis) Carvalho, and her husband, Charles M. Carvalho; and his son, John (J.J.) Gianakakis (John Jr.), and his wife, Bethany (Stella) Gianakakis. He was a devoted grandfather to Charles John Carvalho, Alexandra Rae Carvalho, Cameron John Gianakakis, and Christian Sotiri Gianakakis. He is also survived by his brothers, Steve Gianakakis and Greg Gianakakis.

John graduated from Ipswich High School, where he met his high school sweetheart, Elaine Griffin. John was a lifelong resident and entrepreneur whose passion for cars began at a young age and shaped both his career and identity. He founded his first business, Auto Diagnostics, on Washington Street in Ipswich, where he built a reputation for hard work, honesty, and exceptional mechanical skill. As his business grew, John expanded into a larger shop on Topsfield Road, where he operated John’s Texaco and continued serving the community with dedication and pride.

Never one to stand still, John later opened Northshore Hot Tubs, bringing comfort and enjoyment to many families. In 1985, John purchased his long-standing automotive location—formerly known as John’s Citgo—together with his wife, Elaine, who was his partner in both life and business. The shop, now known as John’s Auto and Tire, remained a cornerstone of his life’s work.

After his semi-retirement, John enjoyed wintering in Largo, Florida, where he spent time golfing and visiting the American Legion with family and friends.

John was especially proud to work alongside his family. He worked side-by-side with his son, John Jr., sharing his knowledge, values, and passion for the business. Today, his legacy continues through John Jr. and his daughter-in-law, Bethany, who own and operate John’s Auto and Tire and carry forward the dedication he instilled.

John will be remembered for his strong will, generous heart, and unwavering devotion to his family, his work, and his community. After a long fight, he is now at peace.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday  April 14, 2026  at  11:00 A.M.  at the Assumption Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church  8 Lafayette Road, Ipswich.   Burial will follow in the New Highland Cemetery  29 Town Farm Road, Ipswich.  Visiting hours will be Monday  April 13th.  from  5:00 to 8:00 P.M.  in the Morris Funeral Home  45 North Main Street, Ipswich, relatives and friends are respectfully invited.  To send a letter of condolence to John’s family please go to:  MorrisFH.com .

In lieu of flowers the Gianakakis family has asked that donations be made in John’s name to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute for cancer research.  Here is the link:  https://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/site/TR?team_id=3483&fr_id=1200&pg=team