John P. Alevizos, of Weston and formerly of Newton, died recently after a long illness at the age of 85. Mr. Alevizos successfully combined careers as a Professor of Business Administration at Boston University, a management consultant to leading international corporations, a Director of Marketing for an international packaging firm, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Atlanta Braves and Vice President of the Boston Red Sox. Mr. Alevizos was also a successful real estate developer in the Greater Boston area for the past 40 years leading The Alevizos Group, a family owned real estate development company.
Alevizos authored “Marketing Research”, a widely adopted Prentice Hall college text and case book translated to Spanish and Japanese. He co-authored the acclaimed Harvard Business Review article “Downtown Dilemma” which was also featured in Business Week and Fortune.
As a Red Sox executive in the 1960’s and 1970’s, Alevizos re - developed the Winter Haven, Florida spring training complex presently used by the Cleveland Indians. The development also entailed new motels, a shopping center and other commercial developments. Mr. Alevizos initiated numerous improvements to Red Sox business operations and Fenway Park, many of which are evident today.
Mr. Alevizos was employed by Ted Turner as General Manager of the Atlanta Braves in 1976. He was widely recognized for reorganizing a depleted player development program expanding scouting staffs and minor league instruction -- a forerunner of today’s major league player development systems. Alevizos was also cited in a 1975 Sporting News article as the prime mover in bringing major league baseball to Toronto. In recent years, he led a movement to acquire and relocate the Montreal Expos to central Connecticut.
Born in Boston, Alevizos received Bachelors and Masters degrees from Boston University, a certificate in City Planning Studies from MIT, as well as doctoral graduate study at Harvard Business School.
Alevizos proudly served his country : a Bronze Star medal holder with several battle stars as an Infantry and Army Intelligence Officer in the Pacific Campaign during World War II.
He was a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, the Harvard Club, Beta Gamma Sigma, Greater Boston Board of Realtors, the American Association of University Professors, Leadership 100, a past President of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of New England parish council, an Archon of the Patriarchate of the Orthodox Church and a former trustee of Hellenic College and the Carroll School of Lincoln. Archbishop Iakovos awarded Alevizos the St. Paul medal, the highest recognition of the Greek Orthodox Church of North and South America. In 2004 Alevizos received a citation of appreciation from the Massachusetts House of Representatives for honoring those who served on September 11, 2001.
Alevizos is survived by his wife Koula Alevizos of Weston, daughter Marcia Alevizos of Natick, son Peter Alevizos and his wife Nancy Alevizos of Tequesta, Florida, and son Robert Alevizos and his wife Sandy Alevizos of Wellesley, and seven grandchildren.
A Funeral Service will be celebrated at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 57 Brown Street, Weston, Ma. on Monday, August 8 at 10:00 AM. Visiting hours at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington Street, Wellesley, on Sunday, August 7, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Entombment at Newton Cemetery.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in John’s memory to the charity of your choice.
Arrangements by George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, Wellesley.