Charles “Chuck” Nicholas Diamantopoulos, of Tucson, Arizona, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, October 13th in Tucson, Arizona, surrounded by family and friends. He was 82 and lived in Arizona and Wyoming.
Born on April 22, 1927, in Lowell, Massachusetts, Chuck served in the Navy as a Hospital Apprentice Second Class from 1945 – 1946, receiving a Certificate of Graduation by the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. He was honored with the World War II Victory Medal and the American Area Medal. Charles went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1952 from the University of Arizona. After graduation, he worked in Los Angeles as a Contracts Administrator for Hughes Aircraft Company, where he ultimately advanced to the position of a Senior Contract Negotiator. He worked at Hughes for 30 years, retiring at age 55.
Chuck moved to Arizona in 1946 and lived on The Star King Ranch with his sister Sally Klene and her husband Ralph. When his sister divorced, he helped raise her two children, Ralph (Pidge) and Kathie.
In 1964, he married Barbara Drake in Tucson and adopted her two young children, Lisa and Keely. Chuck and Barbara had two daughters together, Eleni and Roxanne. Chuck and Barbara divorced in 1975.
In 2001, Chuck met Patty Anselmi, of Rock Springs, Wyoming and they became inseparable companions. They resided in both Tucson and Rock Springs during their ten years together. The couple enjoyed traveling with both of their families, the highlight for Chuck being a trip to Greece in 2006.
Chuck was a beautiful, kind and compassionate gentleman. He touched the lives of so many and was dearly loved by all who knew him. He had a great spirit and dignity; he also was a prankster, joker, silly and fun. Chuck enjoyed playing cards at the Elks, his travels with Patty, telling stories, making Greek food, and his gambling trips to Las Vegas. Chuck loved his two beautiful grandchildren, Hendrix and Mailey and was like a second grandfather to Patty’s grandchildren, Kirsi, Steven, Laurel, Aspen and Zack. He had unswerving loyalty to family and was there to counsel and console them at any time. Chuck did it his way, and he went out a winner in every sense.
Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, The Reverend Nicholas Diamantopoulos and Presbytera Efthalia Georgoulis Diamantopoulos of Lowell, Massachusetts; his siblings George, Angelo, John, Dionyisios, Sally, Paul and Mary and Patty’s son, Paul Anselmi, Jr.
He is survived by his daughters, Lisa Diamantopoulos and her husband Jay Gullixson of Madison, Wisconsin; Keely Diamantopoulos and her husband Steve Rouch of La Quinta, California; Eleni Diamantopoulos of Silver Lake, California; Roxanne Diamantopoulos of Woodland Hills, California; nephew Ralph Klene of Claremont, California and niece Kathie Klene of San Diego, California; Chuck’s companion Patty Anselmi and her daughters Michelle Anselmi and husband Reno; Liisa Anselmi-Dalton and husband Dan; Godson Dennis Diamantopoulos of Hudson, New Hampshire, and many other nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, relatives and friends.
Relatives and friends will be received at the M.R. LAURIN & SON FUNERAL HOME, 295 Pawtucket St., Lowell on Tuesday from 4 to 8pm. His funeral will take place from the Funeral Home on Wednesday at 9am with a funeral service to be held at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Lowell at 10am. Interment to follow in Westlawn Cemetery, Lowell. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, memorial donations may be made in his memory to to Carondelet Hospice, 630 N. Alvernon Way, Ste 361, Tucson, Arizona 87511-1843