Paul Kollios

MILLBURY/OXFORD - Paul Kollios, 89, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 27th after a brief illness, with his wife by his side.

Mr. Kollios was born and raised in Southbridge, the son of Spiro Kollios of Epirus, Greece, and Katina (Stamoulis) Kollios of Konstanza, Romania, both deceased. He was a Wells High School “Hall of Fame” athlete who went on to graduate from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he was Co-Captain of the 1957-1958 varsity basketball team. He was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Army in 1959 and honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant in 1965. In 1966, he earned his master’s degree from Assumption College in Worcester. Mr. Kollios taught and coached basketball at Millbury High School from 1961 to 1966, where his charges, in 1964, won the Clark University large school’s basketball tournament. He also taught and coached at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational High School from 1966-1981.

For several years, Paul served on the Millbury School Committee, Board of Selectman and Council on Aging, and in 1980 was elected State Representative for the 7th Worcester District (Auburn, Millbury, and Oxford). Mr. Kollios served in Massachusetts House of Representatives for sixteen years. He was appointed by three successive Speakers to be House Chairman of the Joint Committee on Human Services and Elderly Affairs. He received numerous awards for his work supporting seniors, children, disabled persons, the poor, homeless and addicted. He was selected “Legislator of the Year” by the state’s Veterans Service Agents in 1995, a “Special Friend of Labor” by the State AFL/CIO in 1990, 1992 and 1996 and given a special award in 1996 by the Teamsters Local 170. He proudly accepted the Mitch Snyder Award in 1992 for his efforts on behalf of the poor and homeless.

In the late 1980’s, Paul initiated the proposals for expanded commuter rail service from Framingham to Worcester and the first Park ‘N’ Ride facility at the East Millbury Toll Plaza. He also assisted in pursuing the development of the Route 146 Millbury/Worcester toll road connector.

Mr. Kollios was a member of the Millbury Democratic Town Committee for over 30 years, which bestowed upon him their “Democrat of the Year” award in 1990. He was on fourteen occasions a delegate to the State Democratic Convention and selected as a delegate to the National Democratic Convention in Atlanta in 1988. He wants also to acknowledge the “Kollios Gang”, his faithful campaign supporters and friends. Besides teaching, politics and sports, Paul had a passion for music and dance. He continually advocated educational opportunities towards the Arts and Music.

Mr. Kollios was a member of the Auburn Millbury Kiwanis Clubs, the Millbury Athletic Association and active in the Millbury Dollars for Scholars Program. He was an active member of St. Spyridon’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Worcester and served on the Board of Directors of the Holy Trinity Nursing Home in Worcester from 2003-2006.

He leaves his wonderful wife Marcia A. (Woodcome) Landry Kollios, who always provided her loving care; a brother Gregory of Hyannis; a daughter, Meg Bradley of South Carolina; his stepchildren Kristen Cadarette and companion Aaron Carchedi of Auburn; Kara Landry and companion Casey Montag of Severna Park, MD; John Landry and wife Kim of Severna Park, MD; Keith Landry of Oxford. He leaves a close cousin, Arete Haidas of Worcester with whom he was raised and a cousin, Katina Pappas of Worcester who baked Greek pastries for him. He also leaves nephews, Eric and Stephen Kollios of Las Vegas.

His many loving grandchildren Jaclyn Camuso and her husband Tyler, James Landry, Colton Wilson and his wife Rachel, Hayden Wilson, Brooks Hatherway, Courtney Wilson, Chelsea Lewis, Grae Lankford, Joseph Cadarette and his wife Lauren, Jake Carchedi.

Along with Marcia, Paul bonded closely with his grandson John Cadarette and his companion Julianna Liu and his “Best Buddy” grandson Cameron Cadarette. He also leaves a shining new light granddaughter Sophia Grace Montag. Paul was predeceased by his brothers George in 1998 and Bill in 2017.

The family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to the wonderful staff at Cape Canaveral Medical Center 5ICU for the kindness, compassion, and professional care they provided. A special thank you to his nurse Lauren who kept him laughing, his nurse Kendra who cared for him until his final rest. A special thanks to Father Zacharias Thornbury of St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church and Deacon Thomas Buddington of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Community who never left our side the entire time Paul was treated.

Calling hours will be held on Saturday October 11th from 8:30 to 10 a.m. in St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral 102 Russell St. Worcester, Ma 01609, his funeral Mass will follow in the church promptly at 10 a.m. with burial in Central Cemetery in Millbury, Ma.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made out to St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 102 Russell St., Worcester, MA 01609 or to the Center of Hope, P.O. Box 66, Southbridge, MA 01550.