Xenofon Chryssanthakopoulos, known to family and friends as Fonda, passed away peacefully on May 29, 2026. He was 72.
Fonda was born on June 8, 1953, in Temeni, Greece, the youngest of three children of George Chryssanthakopoulos and Katina Athanasopoulos. He served in the Greek Army in Cyprus and later emigrated to the United States in 1986, building a life that remained closely tied to his Greek roots while becoming deeply settled in the country he chose.
Family, work, and the simple pleasures of home shaped much of that life. Fonda was a proud Greek, a devoted husband and father, and a Yankees fan who could be just as happy watching a game as he was tending a garden full of tomatoes or surf fishing at Island Beach State Park.
Those who knew him remember a kind and good-natured man who showed love through action. He was the person ready to paint a room, notice what needed fixing, or head to Home Depot for whatever part or tool would make things right. With his wife, Eva, he enjoyed dinners out and spontaneous trips, always willing to go along and make a day of it.
His greatest happiness came from being with his daughters and grandchildren. Family remained the center of his life, and his care for them was often expressed quietly, through presence, help, and the everyday work of showing up.
Fonda was predeceased by his parents, his brother Chryssanthos, and his daughter, Katina. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Evangeline Chryssanthakopoulos, his brother Demitrios and his wife, Sonia, his daughters Despina Chrysanthakopoulou and her husband, Stamatis, Georgette Rochlin and her husband, Seth, and Andriana Pinto and her husband, Joe Anthony. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Nikolaos, Hera, Wesley, Rafael, and Simon, along with numerous nieces and nephews in Greece and the United States.
A memorial visitation will be held on Thursday, June 4, 2026, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., followed by the funeral at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 2200 Church Road, Toms River, New Jersey.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church.