Dr. John Elefterakis (1959-1997)
Dr. John, as he was known to his patients, was born on August 19, 1959. He attended Marine Park Junior High School and graduated in 1976 from Sheepshead Bay High School, where he was a member of the baseball and basketball teams. Already aware of his medical calling, he enrolled in the six-year Sophie Davis Biomedical Program at the City College of New York.
Dr. John completed his medical education at the New York Medical School in Valhalla, New York. He graduated in 1982 and was accepted at the Lutheran Medical Center in Sunset Park for his internship, and subsequent residency, in internal medicine. Dr. John continued his affiliation with the Lutheran Medical Center as an associate attending physician even after the completion of his residency. He opened his own private practice in 1988, the Gerritsen Beach Medical Plaza on Gerritsen Avenue. Dr. John is remembered as a friendly and accessible physician willing even to make house calls.
The Gerritsen Beach community benefited tremendously from Dr. John’s energy and spirit. For twelve years he served as the Medical Director of the Gerritsen Beach Volunteer Fire Department. This organization has been protecting the homes of Gerritsen Beach since 1921, when the area was first developed. Dr. John also provided volunteer health care for the Nazareth High School, Sheepshead Bay High School, and Abraham Lincoln High School football teams, and worked with the Youth Drug Abuse Resistance Education program (D.A.R.E.). He died suddenly of a brain aneurysm on March 6, 1997; this playground was named for him on November 2 of that year.
Nice guy, Dr. John. Lived around the corner from me and assisted my father at home in times of need. No charge, no fee, just because he cared. Where can you find that nowadays?
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Dr. John will always be loved and missed in the community. He had a pleasant, caring demeanor. My mom was very fond of him as well..
My good friend lived next door to his family and I lived around the corner. So I knew him (and his family) growing up in the neighborhood. Nice people.
He was the best thing since Dr. Baronberg. It’s hard to find doctors nowadays with the same bedside manner.
R.I.P. John
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Ahhh Dr. Baronberg, I can still feel that shot in my butt, ouch. Dr. John was a nice kind caring doctor, cute too. I wish his family well and will say a prayer because the pain is always there. After several losses in my family I have come to the conclusion that time doe not heal all wounds. RIP Doc.
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God took you way to soon, RIP John, you were the Best!!!!!
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I was John’s teacher at PS 277…and I remember his energy, his drive and his great grin! I hope his family is well…
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i used to live across the street from the family. my whole family used him because he was such a caring person and always there when needed. his wife and children were also beautiful people. rip dr.john
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to dr.john you were tough on the court,i hated your btother greg, big ego, just like the platisi all you guys thought you were better than the beach people. so what if we didnot have a lot of money. you guys never did fit in especially greg, defiores, pinella, another punk
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to dr.john-tough athlete greatheart in spite of your size we never thought losing you were always positive even when we had noheight, playing 3on 3.miss you but not the egostistic people on your block platsis, defiores, pinella take care
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