Funeral arrangements set for Ann Arbor family killed in fire
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John Alexandropoulos took care of his parents as they got older, which allowed them to remain at their Waverly Road home instead of a nursing home, friends said.
He gave them their space, immersing himself in projects in the basement that included developing technology for military use, said friend Peter Roulo.
“He really did everything for his parents,” Roulo said. “He really loved them. He was just very caring.”
On Friday, a funeral service will be held for Alexandropoulos and his parents, Demetri and Joanna, who died in a fire early Sunday at their Ann Arbor home.
John Alexandropoulos is pictured in this photo from 1987.
Courtesy photo
The service is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church on Scio Church Road.
Authorities say the fire may have started in the basement, but they have no reason to believe it’s suspicious.
It was the deadliest blaze in Washtenaw County in more than two-and-a-half years.
Roulo, co-owner of Eyemedia Sound & Vision, a home theater and stereo equipment store on West Stadium Boulevard, went out to dinner with John Alexandropoulos and other friends last Tuesday.
Alexandropoulos was excited about a recent project, Roulo said.
He developed a tablet personal computer that military agencies could use in the field to identify people simply by taking their picture, Roulo said. The computer was designed to pull up information on people from a federal law enforcement database.
“He brought the unit in here after he was finished building it,” said Roulo. “We played around with it. It was cool. I was fascinated he could build a computer from scratch and it worked.”
Many of his jobs were for Pioneer Technology Services Inc. in Howell, including Y2K certification work in 1999 for the city of Detroit, said friend and former colleague Ben Van Houweling.
While Alexandropoulos enjoyed going to movies, bars and occasionally hunting, he was fascinated with how things worked and strived to make them work better, friends said.
“His mind was always working,” Van Houweling said. “He was just very curious."
Friends said he remembered most everything he saw or read.
“He’s one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever known,” Van Houweling said. “He was extremely generous. He definitely will be missed. That’s for sure.”
Joanna and Demetri Alexandropoulos are pictured in this photo from 1977.
Courtesy photo
Many in the local Greek community were saddened by the deaths, including Nick Roumel, an attorney who also works as a food writer for Current Magazine, a local arts and entertainment publication.
Roumel got his first taste of the restaurant business working as a dishwasher for Demetri Alexandropoulos at a restaurant on State Street in 1974.
Roumel was a freshman at University of Michigan and needed to make some cash because his girlfriend was visiting from Pittsburgh.
Alexandropoulos treated his employees well, Roumel said.
“He always let me eat something after I was done working,” he said. “He would make me whatever I wanted. A Greek omelette, ice cream sundae…He was very kind.”
Sunday’s fire was the deadliest in Michigan since July 25, when four people were killed in a fire in Hancock in Houghton County, according to Rhonda Howard, a department analyst for the state’s bureau of fire services.
The last fire to claim several lives in Washtenaw County occurred on Feb. 8, 2007, when three children - ages 1, 5 and 7 - died in a fire at Paradise Manor in Ypsilanti.
As of the end of September, 111 people have died in 96 fires in the state. In 2008, 161 people died in 150 fires statewide, Howard said.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at leehiggins@annarbor.com or 734-623-2527.
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Thank you for the funeral information.
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Posted Nov 4
John was a great guy. I knew his struggles to care for his parents.
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Posted Nov 4
John and I grew up together at Dicken, Slauson and Pioneer schools. I cannot imagine what his life was like taking care of his parents and living with them. To have all of their lives end this way is truly tragic.
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Posted Nov 4
John was a great person. I was friends with him for over 7 years. Unfortunately, we lost some communication when I moved to California. I saw him last year when I went back to Michigan and he was just as nice as he was a year ago or when I met him. He was a great friend anyone could ever ask for. I remember hanging out with him in South U., at the apartment blasting his expensive speakers(he was an audiophile), and having him help me with my computers. Because of him, I also became curious of everything...wanting know how stuff worked, how things got created, and wanting answers to things we didn't know. He was very smart and could answer almost any questions you have of anything.
He loved his cars. At the time, he had an Audi S4, RX-7(which was on blocks), and a Nissan (forgot the model). He had some parts for his S4 that he could never finish installing.
He really liked his audio. He had some high end audio stores he used to go to all the time. He had an apt by Eastern campus where we went to hang out and listen to music on his B&W speakers.
He had several guns he collected but never really saw him shoot. He just polished them and stored them away.
I am very saddened by the news. If you are his family member reading this, please shoot me an email at kaung@auroradatalogic.com. I have some things to send you. I am very sad that I can't attend the funeral.
I was just thinking about looking him up so I could get in touch with him then came upon this tragic event.
-Kevin Aung
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Posted Nov 5
I was deeply saddened to hear about the fire at 1701 Waverly Rd. in Ann Arbor last Sunday. My heart goes out to the Alexandropoulos family and all others who knew and loved them. My name is Robert Birkhold. I am the eldest son of the family who originally owned this house. We lived there from 1956 to 1964. I have many fond childhood memories of the house itself and of the surrounding neighborhood.
I had only one encounter with the family, and it occurred sometime during the 1970’S. I was visiting friends at the university, and decided to drive by the old house. When I arrived, it appeared that someone was home, and I decided to walk up to the front door. Mr. & Mrs. Alexandropoulos opened the door, and after explaining who I was, cheerfully invited me in. We spent 10 or 15 minutes walking throughout the house, conversing about memories and common interests. It allowed me to briefly re-live my childhood, and I have always been grateful to the Joanna and Demetri for that.
My father (now 87 years old), my sister, Cindy, and I have all been similarly affected by this tragedy. It feels as if a small part of us died with the destruction of the house and the passing of the Alexandropoulos family. Even though we never really knew them, we somehow feel a connection.
Robert Birkhold
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Posted Nov 6
I would like to extend our thanks to all of you, friends, neighbors, parishioners of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and the extended Ann Arbor Greek community that stood by our side during these last difficult days as we laid our aunt Joanna, uncle Demetri and cousin John to rest.
Many of you had touching and interesting stories to share. Your kindness and sensitivity is greatly appreciated. THANK YOU.
Ioannis and Angela Moutsatsos
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Posted Nov 6
I want to extend my sincere condolences to the Alexandropoulos family for their loss. On October 1st my Father, Mother and little Sister were killed in a house fire in Bangor, Mi. It is a huge tradgedy, a huge loss. My prayer for you is that you are able to find comfort in family and friends. I do not know if smoke detectors would have helped in either of these fires but I do know they couldn't have hurt. Please, everyone, check your smoke detectors and have a fire escape plan with your family. God Bless you all.
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Posted Nov 10