US mourns death of Anastasios Tsakos, NYPD police officer killed by drunk driver

·

The US city of New York yesterday mourned the death of Greek American Anastasios Tsakos, a NYPD police officer tragically killed by drunk driver.

The funeral was held a St. Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Church, where Mayor Bill de Blasio, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea and Archbishop Elpidophoros, of the Greek Orthodox Church of America, all made touching comments.

The widow of Anastasios sobbed as she remembered her beloved hubby as “the love of my life” and an “awesome dad”.

“I wish we had more time — to watch our kids grow,” Irene Tsakos said in front of mournersat the packed Saint Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Shrine Church in Greenlawn.

“I wish we could grow old together. That was the plan, but you were taken from us too soon.”

She fought back tears as she continued about their two children, ages 3 and 6, “And now our kids will grow up without their dad, without their awesome dad. They will never forget. I will make sure of that.

“Tasos, you are the love of my life,” Irene choked, while bursting into tears. “I hope I made you proud.”

American and Greek flags stood side by side at the front of the Long Island chapel, next to Tsakos’ flower-draped open casket and a large portrait of the 43-year-old officer.

The family of Officer Anastasios Tsakos cry as his casket is carried from the church. Photo: Reuters

A massive wall of police officers lined the road outside the church.

Mayor Bill de Blasio called the fallen officer “a Greek hero for our time,” and the city is mourning a “lost guardian”.

Archbishop Elpidophoros heralded Tsakos’ service to the city — at one point drawing a round of applause after referring to the NYPD as the world’s finest.

Irene Tsakos holds the hands of her children as she watches NYPD officers fold an American flag that draped the casket of her husband NYPD Officer Anastasios Tsakos during his funeral service at St. Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Shrine Church on May 04, 2021 in Greenlawn, New York. (Getty Images)

“There is no justice on this Earth that can bring him back to us,” the archbishop said. “Officer Tsakos looks down today from heaven, looks down on all of you. In your tears, in your pain, in your righteous anger and your deepest sorrow, Tsakos is present.”

Tsakos, 43, was directing traffic on the Long Island Expressway after an earlier car accident when police said he was struck and killed by a 2013 Volkswagen driven by Jessica Beauvais, who allegedly admitted she was driving drunk.

Beauvais, 32, faces 13 charges, including manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated, and is being held without bail.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Greek Foreign Minister meets Libyan Commander Haftar in Benghazi

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis met with General Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army, in Benghazi.

Eric Brown’s viral Epiphany memory unites Greek and First Nations communities

The social media video of Bidjigal Gundungarra Dharawal man, Eric Brown, has captured the hearts of thousands of Greek Australians.

Greek-owned ship attacked and abandoned in Red Sea amid Houthi escalation

Crew members of a Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier, Magic Seas, were forced to abandon ship in the Red Sea.

Victorian government launches Anti-Hate Taskforce after wave of antisemitic attacks

A man has been charged in connection with an alleged arson attack on a historic synagogue in East Melbourne.

Summer soundtrack: The ultimate guide to Greek concerts and festivals in 2025

Wherever you are in the country, The Greek Herald has the inside scoop on must-see performances to catch during your summer escape.

You May Also Like

Kosta Pehlivanidis pleads not guilty to trafficking $3.2 million worth of cocaine

Kosta Pehlivanidis has been ordered to stand trial after allegedly attempting to traffic 8 kg of cocaine, worth more than $3 million.

Five things we Greeks love about Australia

While Australia is a special country in its own right, what are the values that make Greeks particularly fall in love with it?

Evacuees from Mallacoota arrive in Melbourne, including 19-year-old Greek woman

HMAS Choules, with almost 1000 people and 115 pets on board, docked at Hastings at 4.30pm, with the first bus load of people arriving...