Peter Papadogiannis, 68, of South Windsor, beloved husband of the late Mary (Stamatakis) Papadogiannis, died peacefully Saturday, March 5, 2016, with his family by his side. He was born in Sparta, Greece, to the late Sotirios and Kantoula (Koutsoubos) Papadogiannis. Peter truly lived the American Dream. He emigrated to North America as a child, living in Montreal with his family before moving to the U.S. to make a life for himself and start a family of his own in Connecticut. For years, Peter worked in the bridge painting industry, owning PAR Painting, Inc., which he ran with Mary for nearly 20 years. His entrepreneurial spirit led to other ventures; he owned a restaurant, an insurance agency and a hotel hospitality business. He was a strong and generous man who was fearless in taking on any new endeavor or challenge. Peter played soccer in his youth and was a long-time member of the Hartford Hellenic Soccer Club. He was eager to search for diamonds in the rough at any flea market or tag sale he could find. He enjoyed experimenting in the kitchen, always creating new dishes. He was an avid golfer and outdoorsman, enjoying the camaraderie of walking 18 holes or simply sitting in the sun with friends and family. He loved attending his son's hockey games and cheering on the team, even if the referees didn't always share in his excitement. He was a fan of the Montreal Canadiens, New York Yankees and New York Giants. More than anything, Peter was a family man and a great father who enjoyed all the time he spent with his wife, children, grandchildren and other family members. He was predeceased by his brother Theodore Papadogiannis of Higganum, and his sisters Elefteria Valiotis of Stamford and Panagiota Alexopoulos of Port Richie, FL. He is survived by his loving children, Steve Papadogiannis and his girlfriend Shannon Thibodeau of Ellington, Stephanie Papadogiannis and her boyfriend Jamie Bohner of Branford, and Despina and Robert Hazen Jr., and their sons Robert III and Ryan, of Granby. He is also survived by his sisters Mary Glekas of Montreal, QC, Janie Kanaras of Granby, and Helen Dennis of Stamford, as well as many beloved family members, including nieces, nephews, cousins, and brothers and sisters in- law. The funeral will take place Friday, March 11, 10:00AM, at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 433 Fairfield Ave, Hartford. Burial will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. Visiting hours will be held Thursday, March 10, from 5-8PM, with a Trisayion service at 5:30PM, at the Dillon-Baxter Funeral Home, 1276 Berlin Turnpike, Wethersfield. To share a memory with the family, please visit www.dillonbaxter.com.