Mr. Constantine J. "Gus" Panarites passed away at home Monday, December 7, 1998, after a brief illness. Mr. Panarites was a lifelong Ilion resident. He was born April 5, 1919. He graduated with the IHS Class of 1938. He received his Bachelors, Masters and Certificate of Advanced Study from Syracuse University. During WW II, he served his country as a Marine.

"Gus" grew up in his family's restaurant, the "Ilion Candy Kitchen", later known as the "J. Panarites Restaurant". He began his career in 1944, when then-Superintendent Earl P. Watkins asked him to serve as athletic director at Ilion High School. Mr. Panarites resigned, after a year as athletic director, to manage his family's business, the J. Panarites Restaurant on Otsego Street, Ilion. While running the restaurant, he earned his master's degree in business education from Syracuse University. In 1959, he rejoined the Ilion High School Faculty, teaching History. He ended his career with his appointment to the post of Superintendent of the Ilion Central School District, in 1975. As school superintendent, Mr. Panarites led the district through construction of the Remington School and the subsequent elementary school consolidation. He retired in 1978.

Gus was an avid fan of Ilion Central School and Syracuse University sports and scholastic programs. He was a director on the Ilion Central School District Foundation Board. A scholarship fund was established by Gus and his sister Mary, at the Ilion High School, and is awarded annually in their parents' name. Those wishing to make contributions to the "James C. and Helen Panarites Family Memorial Scholarship Fund" may do so, c/o Ilion Central High School, Weber Avenue, Ilion NY 13357.

He leaves two daughters and one son, Dr. Helen Panarites of Atlanta, GA, Febronia and her husband, Steven Murphy, of Whitesboro, and James C. and wife, Tammy Panarites, of Ilion. He also leaves the mother of his three children, Dorothy Annes Panarites, of Syracuse, his three sisters and two brothers-in-law, three grandchildren, several nieces and nephews; and many close and dear friends.

November 2015 Feature Story on Constantine 'Gus' Panarites