MARIANNA M (MAHLERES) RAFTOPOULOS
Marriages
JOHN RAFTOPOULOS - December 11, 1983
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5 A - April 17, 2010
Marianna M. Raftopoulos, 55, Craig, died April 14, 2010, at her home. Trisagion will be at 7 p.m. Sunday at Grant Mortuary
Chapel in Craig. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at St.
John’s Greek Orthodox Church in Craig, followed by burial in
Craig Cemetery. Mrs. Raftopoulos was a former
Moffat County commissioner. Survivors include her husband,
John; two sons, George and Angelo, both of Craig; one
daughter, Mary Katherine of San Diego; her parents, Nick
and Helen Mahleres of Grand Junction; and one brother,
Harry Mahleres of Aurora. Memorial contributions can
be made to St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church in care of Grant
Mortuary, 621 Yampa Ave., Craig 81625.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel - May 9, 2010
Marianna Mahleres Raftopoulos
passed away April 14, 2010 at her
home in Craig, Colorado after an
11 year battle with Chronic Lymphocytic
Leukemia. She was surrounded
by her loving family and
a few of her closest friends.
Marianna was born on May 23,
1954 to Nick and Helen Mahleres, in Grand Junction, Colorado. She
spent her summers in Meeker, Colorado on her father's sheep ranch
and returned each fall to attend school in Grand Junction. She
graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1972. She attended
the University of Colorado where she earned a bachelor's degree in
journalism with a minor in marketing and was a member of the Pi
Phi Sorority. After graduation, she was employed by the J.C. Penny
Company as a merchandise buyer and later was promoted to corporate
executive and transferred to San Antonio, Texas.
On December 11, 1983, Marianna married the love of her life, John
Raftopoulos, of Craig, Colorado. The ranching lifestyle and motherhood
proved to be full time job as she helped with the many tasks
involved in the life of ranching. On July 4, 1985, their first child, a
son, George was born. On August 3, 1988, Mari Katherine Raftopoulos
was born, and on October 14, 1992, Angelo Raftopoulos entered
their lives. Yet even with all this work, she sought out more
challenges to satisfy her innate drive to achieve and to be of service
to her community.
Marianna wore many hats in her lifetime. Not only was she a
rancher's wife and a devoted mother, she was also a well respected
politician and a credible businesswoman. She was the greatest fan
and never missed an athletic or school event. She received the
Woman of the Year award in 1994 for her remarkable accomplishments
in both work and family, her ability to inspire others and her
grace under these pressures. At that time she was quoted as follows:
"I want to be a part of a community with a strong health care system,
a strong education system and a very established small business base
which includes agriculture", she continued, "change is within our
reach but you have to participate in order to do it." She also said "In
my business and in my personnel life I try to be honest and factual.
In the end honesty and facts will always win out."
She was true to her word, and was employed as a Community
Relations Director of the Memorial Hospital until the Fall of 1996
when she was elected as the first woman commissioner of Moffat
County. She served two terms as a County Commissioner. During
her time as commissioner, she was instrumental in securing funding
for the construction of the Public Safety Center and DSL service for
Northwest Colorado. After her second term as county commissioner,
she continued her career aspirations as an oil and gas public
relations consultant.
Even with her busy work schedule and constant meetings,
Marianna always found time to give back. She served on many
boards and commissions, as she was a philanthropic member in not
only this community but also the state and nationwide. She served in
leadership positions on the following boards: The Moffat Tunnel
Commission, the president of the Colorado Counties Inc., a
chairwoman for the Republican Central Committee, Yampa Valley
Partners board member, United Way vice president, Colorado
Cattlemen Association - Children of the West, Craig and Moffat
County Economic Development Partnership, Memorial Health
Foundation, Boys & Girls Club of Craig, Memorial Hospital
Foundation, Chairwoman of the Colorado Wildlife Commission and
also she was a member of Governor Owens and Governor Ritter's
transition team.
Marianna will be dearly missed by her family and the community.
Marianna is survived by her husband, John Raftopoulos; sons,
George and Angelo Raftopoulos and daughter, Mari Katherine
Raftopoulos of Craig; her parents, Nick and Helen Mahleres of
Grand Junction; her brother, Harry (Claudia) Mahleres and their
children, Nick, Eleni and Noelle Mahleres of Denver.
Two services were held in her honor. The Trisagion service at
Grant Morturary, followed by Funeral Services at St. John's Greek
Orthodox Church. Officiating was Archimandrite Makarios Mannos
of Salt Lake City, Utah and Reverend Protoprestbter Luke Uhl of
Denver. Interment was at the Craig Cemetery.
Steamboat Today - May 9, 2010
Marianna Mahleres Raftopoulos died April 14, 2010, at her home in Craig after an 11-year battle with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.
She was surrounded by her loving family and a few of her closest friends.
Marianna was born May 23, 1954, to Nick and Helen Mahleres, in Grand Junction.
She spent her summers in Meeker on her father’s sheep ranch and returned each fall to attend school in Grand Junction.
She graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1972. She attended the University of Colorado, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a minor in marketing and was a member of the Pi Phi sorority.
After graduation, she was employed by the J.C. Penny Company as a merchandise buyer, and later was promoted to corporate executive and transferred to San Antonio.
On Dec. 11, 1983, Marianna married the love of her life, John Raftopoulos, of Craig. The ranching lifestyle and motherhood proved to be a full-time job as she helped with the many tasks involved in the life of ranching.
On July 4, 1985, their first child, son George, was born. On Aug. 3, 1988, Mari Katherine Raftopoulos was born, and on Oct. 14, 1992, Angelo Raftopoulos entered their lives.
Yet, even with all this work, she sought out more challenges to satisfy her innate drive to achieve and be of service to her community.
Marianna wore many hats in her lifetime.
Not only was she a rancher’s wife and a devoted mother, she was also a well-respected politician and a credible businesswoman.
She was the greatest fan and never missed an athletic or school event. She received the Woman of the Year award in 1994 for her remarkable accomplishments in both work and family, ability to inspire others and grace under these pressures.
At that time, she was quoted as follows:
“I want to be a part of a community with a strong health care system, a strong education system and a very established small business base which includes agriculture,” she said. “Change is within our reach, but you have to participate in order to do it.”
She also said, “In my business and in my personnel life, I try to be honest and factual. In the end, honesty and facts will always win out.”
She was true to her word, and was employed as a community relations director of The Memorial Hospital until the fall of 1996, when she was elected as the first woman commissioner of Moffat County.
She served two terms as a county commissioner. During her time as commissioner, she was instrumental in securing funding for the construction of the Moffat County Public Safety Center, and DSL service for Northwest Colorado.
After her second term as county commissioner, she continued her career aspirations as an oil and gas public relations consultant.
Even with her busy work schedule and constant meetings, Marianna always found time to give back.
She served on many boards and commissions, as she was a philanthropic member in not only this community, but also the state and nation.
She served the following organizations: the Moffat Tunnel Commission, president of Colorado Counties, Inc., chairwoman for the Republican Central Committee, Yampa Valley Partners board member, United Way vice president, Colorado Cattlemen Association — Children of the West, Craig/Moffat Economic Development Partnership, Memorial Health Foundation, Boys & Girls Club of Craig, The Memorial Hospital Foundation, chairwoman of the Colorado Wildlife Commission, and she was also a member of the transition team for Gov. Bill Owens and Gov. Bill Ritter.
Marianna will be dearly missed by her family and the community.
She is survived by her husband, John Raftopoulos; sons George and Angelo Raftopoulos; and daughter Mari Katherine Raftopoulos, all of Craig. She is also survived by her parents, Nick and Helen Mahleres, of Grand Junction; brother Harry (Claudia) Mahleres, and their children, Nick, Eleni and Noelle Mahleres, of Denver.
Two services were held in her honor. A Trisagion service at Grant Morturary was followed by a funeral service at St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church. Archimandrite Makarios Mannos, of Salt Lake City, and Reverend Protoprestbter Luke Uhl, of Denver, officiated.
Interment was at the Craig Cemetery.
