KeeKee Raftopoulos died at her home in Bridgehampton on November 20, with her husband and children by her side. She was 72.
Born in 1936 to Maria and Konstantinos Caragounis in Corinth, Greece, she spent her childhood in the village of Oropos and later moved to Athens.
In 1958, when she was 22, she married a longtime friend of the family, Jerry Raftopoulos. The couple moved to Mainz, Germany, where they started a family. They lived there for nine years before immigrating to the United States in 1967. All members of the family became U.S. citizens in 1975.
In 1994 she came to settle in Bridgehampton, which survivors said was a place that she loved.
Family members said last week that she was a dear and loving wife and mother, whose patience, tenderness, and selfless nature were remarkable. She loved and lived for her family, they said, and enjoyed the simple things in life: flowers, birds, gardens and trees. Also an exceptional cook, she was said to be most content when she was helping others.
The family also noted her strong faith in God, adding that they will miss her tremendously, but that they are comforted by Psalm 116, “Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his saints.”
In addition to her husband, Jerry Raftopoulos of Bridgehampton, with whom she celebrated a golden anniversary on October 11, she is survived by a daughter, Elizabeth Raftopoulos, and a son, Steve Raftopoulos, both of Manhattan.
A graveside service was held on November 22 at Edgewood Cemetery in Bridgehampton.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065 or East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978 would be appreciated by the familiy.
on Nov 24, 2008