Revision as of 14:01, 6 February 2015

Giorgio Vergetakis was born and raised on a farm outside Iraklion, Crete on 3 July 1900 . He is presumed to have been the oldest son, as his family sent him alone at age 13 or 14 to America, likely to spare him being drafted into WWI and to preserve the family name. He arrived in Philadelphia in 1914. He may have known other Greeks in western Pennsylvania. He found work in steel mills around Tarantum/Pittsburgh, and Butler PA. He and Ruth M. Wilson signed a marriage license in New Castle, PA, but then went to West Virginia to marry. They had four children, all born in Oil City, PA. At some point he shortened his name to George Vergis. This may have been a gradual process, as some insurance bills list his wife Ruth as "Ruth Vergetakis". They moved to Franklin, PA in 1944, and opened a shoe shine and hat-cleaning shop and pool room. Eventually they owned a restaurant with rear pool room. George died in 1974, and is buried in the Franklin Cemetery at Franklin/ Rocky Grove, PA.
(Per correspondence of George and Ruth's youngest son Mike Vergis, Jan. 2015)

Children

(children with George J. Vergis)

Sources

Ref. Num.	Description	Image of origina
1	1940 United States Federal Census Enum. Dist 61-43, Oil City, Venango Co., PA, page 27. Census date 25-26 Apr 1940. Lines 7-11: George J. Vergis, age 34, head, m., b. Greece, employed in billiard room, private business; Ruth M., age 29, wife, m.; James, age 4, son; John, age 2, son; Mary, age 3 mo., dau.. George Vergis b. Greece; rest b. PA.
2	Obituary of John G. Vergis, from collection of Peg Kahle, Oil City Derrick. Dr. John G. Vergis of Rome, NY and formerly of Franklin, died at 1:54 am Friday, 10 Feb 2006 in UPMC Northwest, Seneca. Born 31 Oct 1937 in Oil City, son of the late George and Ruth Wilson Vergis. He was a 1955 graduate of Franklin HS. He attended Defiance College in Ohio and later Temple Univ. in Philadelphia where he earned a degree in Optometry. He served in the US Air Force, attaining the rank of First Lieutenant while serving at Lackland AFB in Texas. He practiced optometry in Franklin until 1980 when he moved his practice to Rome and Whitesboro, NY Surviving are two brothers: Dr. James Vergis and wife Rosemary of Wycombe and Michael Vergis and wife Joan of Rome, NY; and a sister: Mary Denk and husband William of Dublin, OH; and a special friend: Deborah Sartain of Rome, NY. Several nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles also survive. He was preceded in death by his father in 1974 and his mother in 2004. Services at the Hile-Best Funeral Home, Seneca, Cranberry Twp. at 2 pm on Monday, Rev. Jack Kyle, retired Presbyterian pastor, officiating. Interment in the Franklin Cemetery.
3	Michael G. Vergis correspondence, Jan. 2015, ongoing. Giorgio Vergetakis b. 3 July 1900 on farm near Iraklion, Crete; probably was first son. His father was Yimmin Giorgios Vergetakis, (translates as James George Vergetakis). Immigrated to U.S., port of Philadelphia, in 1914, age 14. Worked in steel mills in Pittsburgh/Tantarum PA, and Butler PA. license 15 Nov. 1934, New Castle PA; married in West Virginia. Resided Oil City until 1944, where all 4 children born. Died 1974; buried in Franklin Cemetery. Notes on importance to Greeks of naming tradition, through line for first sons.