Frank Constantine Cockinos ’46

Frank Constantine Cockinos ’46, 89, of Charlotte, N.C., passed away on Aug. 6, 2012, at his home. He was born in Charleston, S.C., on July 8, 1923, to Irene and Constantine M. Cockinos. Cockinos was an avid Boy Scout and achieved the Eagle Scout award at age 16. He attended Davidson, and while there joined the Army in March of 1943 during WWII, assigned to the 44th Division, 7th Army Infantry. He was discharged as staff sergeant and received the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star for achievement in Germany, and the European Theater Operations ribbon with three campaign stars. Cockinos graduated from N.C. State College in 1949 with a B.S. degree in civil engineering and in 1955 with a P.E. degree in sanitary engineering, and practiced engineering in both North and South Carolina. He owned Frank C. Cockinos & Associates, Inc. Consulting Engineers from 1968 until 1997, when he sold his company. Cockinos was very active in his community and very active in the Greek Orthodox Church. At Holy Trinity, he received many certificates of recognition from the Archdiocese, including Distinguished Sunday School Services, which he taught for 25 years, served on the Parish Council for 11 years and as treasurer for three years; he was active in GOYA on a local and district level, assisted with Yiassou Festival, worked on engineering designs at Hellenic Park, and chaired Habitat for Humanity committee for five years. Cockinos was active in founding the second Greek Orthodox Church, St. Nektarios, in Charlotte, served on Parish Council for four years, two of them as chairman; worked on the engineering design committee for the sanctuary/classroom building; and assisted with stewardship funding and the capital campaign for the proposed church sanctuary building. He served on the Diocesan Council, the Diakonia Center camp for children, Metropolitan Alexios of the Atlanta Diocese bestowed the Archangel Michael Honors in 2004 and 2005, and was an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Cockinos served in many leadership positions including serving on the Easter Seal Society for the Charlotte Metrolina Dogwood Chapter for 10 years and one as its president. He also served for 11 years as the engineering representative of the N.C. State Commission for Health Services and on the Mecklenburg County Health Commission for six years. Cockinos also served as chairman of Habitat for Humanity for five years. Cockinos is survived by his wife of 51 years, Despina Kleamenakis Cockinos, 6923 Burlwood Rd., Charlotte, NC 28211; daughter, Maria Malliadis (Nikos Malliadis); son, Dean Cockinos (Timira Christenbury Cockinos); grandsons, Christian and Joshua Cockinos; sisters, Mary Catsimatides, Happy Cockinos, and Petsa Schwartz; brother, Michael Cockinos; his wife’s sister, Angela Pembo, and brothers, Nike and Argie Kleamenakis and Andrew Kleamenakis; and many loving nieces and nephews.