Rest in Peace, Rita and John Chakalos. Thank you to Joy Washburn for keeping the lights going. nnFrom The Brattleboro Reformer:nOwner of fes...
Rest in Peace, Rita and John Chakalos. Thank you to Joy Washburn for keeping the lights going. nnFrom The Brattleboro Reformer:nOwner of festive Chesterfield home found dead in ConnecticutnBy DOMENIC POLI / Reformer StaffnCHESTERFIELD, N.H. -- John Chakalos, the recently widowed owner of the Pond Brook Road residence known for its festive holiday lights, was found dead in his Connecticut home Friday morning at the age of 87.nnAccording to a statement from the Windsor (Conn.) Police Department, officers are investigating a suspicious death at a residence on Overlook Drive. Officers were called to the home at roughly 8:25 a.m. and found the resident dead. Joy Washburn, the caretaker of Chakalos' property at 140 Pond Brook Road in Chesterfield, confirmed that her employer was the deceased person.nnA police representative stated the Connecticut State Police's major crime squad is assisting in the investigation.nnWashburn told the Reformer a private investigator called her around 3 p.m., informing her Chakalos was found dead in his home by one of his daughters. She said the private investigator told her he had not yet been in the home at that point.nn"I don't what's going on, but I've been very upset," she told the Reformer, Friday night. "It ain't gonna be the same without (John)."nnChakalos was a wealthy investor and was mourning the death of his wife Rita, who died the week before Thanksgiving. The couple had made a tradition of decorating their 82-acre Chesterfield property with holiday lights for public enjoyment. For several years, guests have been invited to drive through the estate, and asked to bring a monetary donation or non-perishable food item collected for Joan's Food Pantry, an organization of Asbury United Methodist Church. The lights are open from 6 to 9 p.m. every day until Sunday, Dec. 22.nnThe Chakalos' had split their time between their homes in Connecticut and New Hampshire.nnWashburn said she has no intentions of canceling the lights and took it upon herself to turn them on Friday, even after learning of the death.nnDomenic Poli can be reached at dpoli@reformer.com, or 802-254-2311, ext. 277. You can follow him on Twitter @dpoli_reformer.nnPolice: Chesterfield property owner killed by bullet to the headnPosted: Sunday, December 22, 2013 11:55 am | Updated: 1:03 pm, Sun Dec 22, 2013.nBy ALYSSA DANDREA Sentinel StaffnnAn 87-year-old man found dead in his Connecticut home was killed by a bullet to the head, according to Windsor (Conn.) Police Department.nnJohn Chakalos, who also owns property on 140 Pond Brook Road in Chesterfield, was discovered by one of his daughters shortly before 8:30 a.m. Friday, according to Joy E. Washburn, a caretaker of Chakalos' Chesterfield property.nnThe Connecticut State Medical Examiner's Office said Chakalos died of a gunshot wound at his home at 52 Overlook Drive in Windsor, Conn., police wrote in a news release issued Saturday.nnDetectives from the Windsor Police Department and the Connecticut State Police Major Crime Squad are investigating his death as a homicide, according to the news release.nnChakalos was mourning the death of his wife of 59 years. Rita Chakalos, 84, died the week before Thanksgiving. And now police are investigating the sudden death of her husband at the couple's longtime Windsor home.nnThe couple's Chesterfield property is known locally for its holiday light show. Guests have been invited to drive through the estate and bring a monetary donation or non-perishable food item to collect for Joan's Food Pantry annually.nnInformation will be posted as it becomes available at www.sentinelsource.com.nnAlyssa Dandrea can be reached at 352-1234, extension 1435, or adandrea@keenesentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter @ADandreaKS. Less
