Southbridge: Christo P. Athanas, 108, who was recently recognized as the oldest living native of Southbridge, passed away peacefully on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023.

His wife of 37 years, Marie (Brew) Athanas, passed away in 1976.  He leaves his daughter, Patricia M. Maly of Southbridge; his two sons, Richard P. Athanas and his companion Caren Weeks of Sierra Vista AZ, Robert J. Athanas and his wife Carol of Montgomery, NY, his four grandchildren, Carol Ann Turner of Charlton, Abigail Jezierski and her fiancé, Roger Baker of Southbridge, Kimberly Abatangelo and her husband Drew of Montgomery NY, Anthony P. Athanas and his wife Morgan (VanPelt) of Pine Bush NY; 7 great grandchildren, Kayla Billings, Salvatore Albanese, Brady Morton, Hannah Marrier, Hudson and Myles Abatangelo and Luke Athanas; 10 great, great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his sister Guera "Gerri" Mitro, three brothers, Samuel, Theodore, and Joseph and his son-in-law Emil E. Maly and a great, great grandchild Julien.  Christo was born in Southbridge on Dec. 25, 1914 the oldest son of the late Peter & Vasiliky (Perikly) Athanas.

Christo worked at the American Optical Co. as an engraver in his younger years later opening Athanas Jewelers on Main St Southbridge and continued to repair watches for many years. He was later employed as a machinist at Pratt & Whitney.  Beginning in 1959 he owned and operated ATHBRO Precision Engineering Corp. on River St. in Southbridge later moving to its own facility on Hall Road in Sturbridge employing more than 50 people. ATHBRO was known for their precision machine work, for both private industry and the Department of Defense building guidance and navigation systems for US Navy submarines, and NASA's Gemini and Apollo spacecraft and most notably Apollo 11 Sea of Tranquility, which made the first manned landing on the moon on July 20, 1969.  He held several patents, including one for making an air-bearing table that measures roundness to a millionth of an inch. He later opened TOBERT Industries in Southbridge manufacturing Turbon Industrial mixers. After retiring, for the next 13 years he was a substitute teacher at Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School in Charlton teaching machining, sheet-metal, drafting, carpentry, and cabinetry.

Christo enjoyed golf and was a member of Cohasse Country Club, Southbridge Lions Club, Knights of Columbus and St John Paul II Parish. An avid cribbage player, most recently he loved to play bingo.

His remarkable memory and wit remained with him until his passing.

The family would like to thank the staff at CareOne at Milbury.

His funeral will be held on Monday, Oct. 23rd, from the Daniel T. Morrill Funeral Home, 130 Hamilton St., Southbridge, with a Mass at 11:00am in Notre Dame Church of the St. John Paul II Parish, 446 Main St., Southbridge.  Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Southbridge.  Calling hours in the funeral home will be held Monday, Oct. 23rd, from 9:00 to 10:30am, prior to the Mass.

Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 1120, Framingham, MA 01701 or St. John Paul II Parish, 279 Hamilton St., Southbridge, MA 01550.