John Felopulos, 85; lawyer helped launch Boston firm

JOHN PETER FELOPULOS

As a child, John Peter Felopulos of Waban liked to swing on birch trees, bending branches as did the boy Robert Frost imagined in his poem "Birches."

"He told me he used to climb up the branches and let them drop him back down on the ground," said his son Paul of Natick. "I read the poem at his funeral to celebrate the joy of life."

Mr. Felopulos - a founding partner of the Boston law firm of Callas, Felopulos & Ditelberg - died of cardiac arrest Dec. 12 in his home. He was 85.

As a lawyer, he specialized in commercial real estate, a job that took him around the world.

"He really enjoyed what he did, and I don't think he ever missed a day in the years he worked there," said his other son, Peter of Waban. "He had very interesting stories of his travels and the work he did."

Mr. Felopulos was born to Greek immigrants in Bennington, Vt., and graduated from Bennington High School. He attended the University of Vermont, interrupting his classes to enlist in the US Army. He served in Europe for about two years during World War II.

He returned to finish his undergraduate studies, then earned a law degree from Boston University. He married Carole Nolan in 1959; they divorced in 1971.

Before starting his law firm in 1967, Mr. Felopulos worked as counsel with several Boston investment companies for 15 years.

Mr. Felopulos also was a member of the Court of International Trade and worked on commercial transactions with clients in Iran, Greece, and South Korea.

He was a trustee with the Kahlil Gibran Educational Fund and the Nicholas and Anna Marcopoulos Charitable Foundation.

Proud of his heritage, Mr. Felopulos motivated his sons to learn the Greek language and history. He was an avid antiques collector, tennis player, and photographer.

"He was also a great chef and always used to cook Easter dinner," Paul said. "His favorite dish to cook was chicken kapama, a Greek recipe with chicken in a tomato sauce with oregano and carrots."

In addition to his sons, Mr. Felopulos leaves two granddaughters and one grandson.

Services have been held.