Emmanuil Michael Tsimblakis

Emmanuil Tsimblakis, 81, died Tuesday, August 27, 2019 while under Hospice care at Ladera Care and Rehabilitation Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was born in Pythagorion Samos, Greece. He is preceded in death by his father, Michael Tsimblakis, mother Adamantia (Kouklis) Tsimblakis, and three siblings: Steve Tsimblakis, Maria Papastefan, and George Tsimblakis.



Emmanuil's nickname was Lalaki. He was a sailor in the Greek Navy who landed at Ellis Island and went on to Chicago around 1960.



He worked as a cook in many restaurants in Chicago; he never had children and kept to himself. He loved animals and his companion Zorba, a rescue German Shepard. He lived in Chicago, Phoenix, Colorado, Las Vegas and New Mexico.



He loved sweets and Greek pastries and would frequent the Greek coffee shops in Chicago. He had a loving family who cared about him, although he preferred to live his life alone and mostly distant from family and friends. Lalaki never flew in a plane as he feared them; the only time he ever flew was in a helicopter when he suffered a massive heart attack and was airlifted to a hospital. He faithfully attended St. George in Albuquerque, New Mexico.



He is survived by a brother, Pantazis Tsimblakis and sister, Anna Kanakaki, both of Greece, and a niece Diane Dion, and her family of AZ.

A Funeral Service will be held Thursday, September 5, 2019, 9:00 a.m. at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 308 High St. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102. Interment at Fairview Cemetery will follow the Church service. In lieu of flowers, donations in Emmanuil’s memory may be made to St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 308 High Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102, 505-247-9411.