Michael Stavros Terezakis

Dr. Michael Stavros “Mike” Terezakis, 84, of New Britain, passed away on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, having recently celebrated his 84 ^th birthday at home with friends and family.

Born in Wheeling, West Virginia, Mike was the son of Stavros Nicholas Terezakis and Pearl Tsirlles Paraskeve Terezakis. He is predeceased by his brothers Christos (Chris) Teregis and Evangelos (Bob Terry) Teregis, as well as his beloved nephew Steve Teregis, and Steve’s wife, Olga. Mike spent his career as a Professor of Psychology and Counselor at Central Connecticut State University (1970-2009), from which he retired Emeritus, continuing in private practice as a Marriage and Family Therapist. Mike was a past President of the Connecticut Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, and while at CCSU, was active in the union (AAUP). He was a proud member of the Greek community in New Britain and in every place he’d lived, and an ardent supporter of the Kripalu Center in Stockbridge, MA.

Among Mike’s utmost joys were traveling and befriending people on his travels. In addition to exploring the Mediterranean, he traveled across the continental US, South America, Egypt and the African continent, Japan, China, India, and Europe. He loved to study religious traditions and he cultivated his own spirituality. He was known to respond to worries with a sincere “Are you breathing? Just breathe.”— Advice he was the first and usually the only person to take. He was known for his elaborate salads, for sneaking bags of fruit into movie theaters before it was cool, and for booming fits of laughter. He remained fascinated throughout his life by the healing power of talk therapy, for patients and therapists alike, and studied different approaches to the art of therapeutic dialogue from his youth to his final days. If you knew Mike, you heard a lot about how proud he was of his family and how much he loved and appreciated you.

Mike adored and was adored by his friends among the Connecticut Prime Timers, and by his true comrade Dr. Carol Austad and her husband Robert Swarr. He doted on his grandkids, Atia and Wolfie, who knew him as Papou.

Surviving Mike are his ex-wife and enduring friend Ann Terezakis; daughter Dr. Katie Terezakis (Lawrence Torcello) and granddaughter Atia Una Torcello; daughter Dr. Lisa Benson (David Benson), and grandson Theodore Wolfgang Benson. He is survived by his cherished friend and sister in law, Eleanor Strojny (Teregis), his niece and nephews, Debra Teregis Nettles, Michael (Jill) Teregis, Greg (Tracy) Teregis, and their families of children and grandchildren. Mike is survived by his favorite artist, Peter Terezakis (Allyson), and cousins George, Diane, Terry, and Anastasios Terezakis, by John Frantzis, and by Manny and Anneken Terezakis and their children. He is survived by his cousin Mary Garafolakis, and her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Indeed, Mike is survived by cherished but too numerous to name family across New England, Ohio, New York, California, Florida, and Greece. He loved and appreciated every one of them.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday May 5th at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home, 411 So. Main St., New Britain. Gathering and visitation will begin at 3:00, with a service at 4:00. In keeping with his lifelong appreciation of therapeutic dialogue, Mike requested that guests at his memorial service be invited to share their memories and thoughts. He specified that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to his legacy project, the CCSU Peace Pole Program. To donate, please email Dr. Carol Austad: Austad@ccsu.edu , or donate to Doctors Without Borders, Smile Train, or a progressive organization that honors Mike’s spirit.