Individual Details

Bernard Panos George Stavracos OR Stuart

(14 Jan 1882 - 24 Oct 1935)

Pam Stavracos Fahlund (HellenicGenealogyGeek and - this is her grandfather and information came from her.

Email to Carol Petranek, April 7, 2017:
I'm so thrilled to have stumbled across you and your website. For the last several months I've been on a mission to learn about my Greek heritage. My paternal grandparents (Bernard Stavracos and Frances Dukas) were from Sparta, and my maternal grandparents (Stella Strategos and John Spanos) were from Smyrna. I'm particularly interested in learning about my grandfather from Sparta, Bernard Stavracos, who died before I was born.

I've been doing research on MyHeritage and talking to family members, but seem to have hit a brick wall. I know Bernard was born in Sparta in January 1882, and from what I’ve been able to piece together, comes from “Sparta Laconia or Gounari” but I am not sure this is accurate or how these entities are related. I do see that you have roots there as well.

My grandparents had 7 children, and Bernard became a successful restauranter (proprietor of The Alps, a well-known restaurant in NYC during the 30’s and 40’s). He died in 1936, when my father was only 15…and I’ve had a hard time finding out about his life before he arrived in America. I’m guessing that “Bernard” was not his birth name. He changed the family surname from Stavracos to Stuart sometime along the way.

Bernard had an older brother, Petros (Peter George Stavracos), born in Sparta in April 1880, who emigrated in 1896, married Helen Mavrodos (b. 1906 in Greece) and was naturalized in 1923. They had 4 children: Pauline Stavracos, Diamondo P. Morfogen (born Stavracos), Olga Stavracos, Demetra Stavracos. I was able to fine Peter through this website, where he is identified as part of the Kostakos line....but I've not been able to figure out what the relationship might be. 
Would love thoughts or guidance on how I might pursue my exploration. Many thanks, Pam

April 21, 2017 email from Pam: my grandfather's nickname was Panos? It seems that my father mentioned this once to my sister, who remembered it.  I was able to find the ship's manifest for my great-grandfather from Paleopanagia, George Stavracos, who appears to have emigrated to NY in 1914, on the Kaiser Franz Josef I, along with his wife Constantina, to join his son Panos Stravrakos (who would have been 32 at the time)!  Another son, Nicolaos, born circa 1897, is named on Constantina's passenger docket as the relative joined in the US - so it would seem that Panos/ Bernard Stavracos and Peter Stavrakos had a younger brother who had also emigrated to NY! No information yet on Panos immigration (in 1898).

Pam's email to GAK, Sparta: June 13, 2017 and she sent me a copy (cgpetranek)
I am seeking information about my family, specifically my grandfather, Panos Stavrakos, who was born in Paleopanagia on January 14, 1882, to George Stavrakos and his wife, Constantina. I am hoping to obtain his birth record.
 
My grandfather emigrated to the United States, to New York City, in 1898 along with his older brother, Petros (Peter George, b. April 26, 1880). His parents and a younger brother (Nicolaos, b. 1897) emigrated  to New York City in 1914 to join Panos.
 
I’ve been able to gather information about Panos' life in New York City, where he became a successful restaurateur until his death in 1935, and would like to learn more about his earlier life in Sparta.

Email, September 15, 2017: My father's surname was Stuart. He changed it legally in 1942 from Stavracos....as did all of his siblings, 3 of whom are named on the headstone. That is probably why the headstone reads Stavracos Stuart. I think the name Stuart must have been added to it later (sometime between 1966-1970) after my grandmother (Frances/Panagiota) and aunt (Aida) died.  
The strange thing is that my grandfather (Panos/Bernard) was thought to have changed the surname from Stavracos to Stuart somewhere along the way but I can't find any reference or documentation for his name change - I was told when I was young that he had changed it because of prejudice against Greeks at a time when his restaurant was beginning to be successful. I'm not sure that he changed it legally, though. If he did, it would have been sometime between 1920 and 1935, and perhaps explains why I haven't been able to find naturalization records.

Events

Birth14 Jan 1882Palaiopanagia, Faridos, Lakonia, Greece
Birth1883
Immigration1898New York City, New York, United States
Arrival1898
MarriageAbt 1906New York City, New York, United States - Panagiota or Frances Dukas
Naturalization19 Feb 1912NY State Supreme Courty, New York City, New York, United States
Census1915The Bronx, New York, United States
Residence1 Jun 1915Relation to Head of House: Head - The Bronx, New York, United States
Draft Registration12 Sep 1918The Bronx, New York, United States
Military Draft Registration12 Sep 1918New York City, New York, United States
Census1920The Bronx, New York, United States
Residence1920Relation to Head: Head; Residence Marital Status: Married - The Bronx, New York, United States
Census1925The Bronx, New York, United States
Residence1 Jun 1925Relation to Head of House: Head - The Bronx, New York, United States
Residence1927The Bronx, New York, United States
Census1930The Bronx, New York, United States
Residence1930Relation to Head: Head - The Bronx, New York, United States
Death24 Oct 1935Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States
Burial26 Oct 1935Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Maspeth, Queens, New York, United States
Alt nameBernard Stuart
FamilySearch IDLTT7-Z1W
OccupationRestauranteur, owner of The Alps. - New York City, New York, United States
Social Security Application & Claims Index
ResidenceNew York, New York, United States
ResidenceThe Bronx, New York, United States

Families

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