With broken hearts, we lost John Paul Bouzakis, age 74, on March 16, 2023, after a year-long battle with cancer.

John was born in 1948 to Virginia and Paul Bouzakis in Crete, Greece. He and his family came to America in September 1954, and they settled down and built a life at 54th St in Woodside Queens. After graduating from Art and Design High School in Manhattan with a degree in art and design, John started his first job as an entry-level worker at William Esty (across from Grand Central Station). He worked his way up to being the head Art Director in advertising, with projects that included Ponds, Winston Salem, and other major bands. John also served our country in the US Army in 1967, after which he returned to his position at William Esty. Eventually, John left to open his first art studio. That was the beginning of a 40-plus-year career as an independent artist. John moved with his family to Rockland County in the 1980s, where he opened 21st Century Gallery at 88 Main Street in Nyack. Over the years, he eventually transformed his art shop into what is known today as Johnny Apollo Gallery.

He was the anchor of his family and lived for the moments when laughter, food, and music came together with the ones he loved. John was a unique, creative, talented, free-spirited, young-at-heart soul. Some words, phrases, and hobbies that begin to illuminate his character:

Artist, photographer, designer, and entrepreneur

Beatlemaniac

Mets Fanatic

Musicologist

Obsessed with styles, clothes, and fashion

Collector and thrift store enthusiast

Greek culture, food, mythology

Superman and Marvel and DC Comics

John is survived by his children, Virginia Bouzakis and Paul Bouzakis, daughter-in-law Kristi Bouzakis and granddaughter Mia Bouzakis, his sister Maria Bouzakis, his nephews Yiorgo (George) Padron, Elias Padron, and Vincent Paglioroli, nieces Eleni (Helen) Saridakis, Valerie Bodner, and Maria Pagliaroli, his longtime girlfriend Ann DelGrande Tartaglione, mother of his children Valerie Ponterotto, as well as beloved family, cousins, and dear friends.

John’s life will be celebrated at Hannemann Funeral Home in Nyack, NY, on March 21st from 4pm to 7pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.