Maria Consuelo Fotinakis (Connie)
December 4, 1943 - December 1, 2023
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of beloved wife and mother, Maria Consuelo (Romero) Fotinakis, 79, who passed away on Friday, December 1st, 2023, in Carson City after a nine year battle with Alzheimer’s, complicated by Covid.
Maria, known to everyone as Connie, was born in Bogota, Colombia on December 4, 1943. From early childhood until her mid-teens, she embraced ballet as her first love, studying under a famous Russian ballerina. She performed many times on stage until, sadly, a back injury ended her young career.
In her early-twenties, Connie immigrated to the United States and later met Donald Fotinakis in November of 1970. It was love at first sight and they were married on February 20, 1971, at Saint Elisabeth’s Catholic Church in Van Nuys, California. After marrying, Connie proudly became an American citizen and she and Don called Valencia, California home until 1990, when the family moved to Minden.
After raising her children, Connie became an ESL teacher’s aide, working at both Fritsch Elementary and Empire Elementary schools in Carson City, as well as the Newhall School District in Santa Clarita, California. She will be fondly remembered by all who knew her, especially for her gentle nature, patience and kindness.
Connie is survived by her husband of 52 years, Don, of Minden; daughter Veronica Perra and husband John, of Gardnerville; son, Christopher Fotinakis of Portland, Oregon; grandchildren, Trent, Owen and Sabrina; as well as a sister, Cecelia Romero of Florida and a brother, Antonio Romero, of Bogota, Colombia.
She was preceded in death by, and is now reunited in Heaven with, her first born infant daughter and their last- born son, Christian Fotinakis, who succumbed to brain cancer in 1987 at six years old.
A funeral mass is scheduled to be held on January 6, 2024, at St. Gall Catholic Church in Gardnerville at 12:00 PM. An interment ceremony, attended by family only, will take place earlier at Eastside Memorial Park in Minden.
Please send any contributions to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or the Alzheimer’s Foundation. Thank you.