Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration

Sea Research Foundation is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Trustee Emeritus William J. Drakos on Friday, August 21. The Drakos family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Sea Research Foundation.

Mr. Drakos served for nearly 20 years as a trustee of Sea Research Foundation. Two years ago, he was elected to the high honor of Trustee Emeritus, an honor bestowed on those who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to the mission of the institution and whose service as a trustee has been exemplary. Mr. Drakos was one of only three individuals in the history of Sea Research Foundation to receive this distinction.

“Bill Drakos was deeply loved by all of us at Sea Research Foundation,” said Dr. Stephen M. Coan, president and CEO of Sea Research. “He cared deeply about the mission of the organization and was passionately interested in all topics related to the oceans, especially in educating children. He had a deep concern for conserving the ocean's resources.” 

Born in Hartford in 1921, Mr. Drakos served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He graduated from Yale University in 1947 and entered the shipping business following his graduation. In 1960, he founded Transcontinental Shipping Corporation, a shipping brokerage, and became one of the nation's most respected shipping owners and operators.

Mr. Drakos also served on the Board of Trustees of Anatolia College in Thessalonika, Greece and on several UNICEF committees. 

In 2008, Mr. Drakos was responsible for launching two important and sustaining partnerships for Sea Research Foundation. He helped to forge an educational exchange program between Mystic Aquarium and Anatolia College, which has resulted in Mystic Aquarium educators going to Greece to teach students. While there, they helped launch an early childhood education program at Anatolia College focusing on marine conservation. In July of this year, a group of 15 high school students from Greece attended a marine science leadership development program at Mystic Aquarium. That same year, Mr. Drakos helped to found the North American Marine Environment Protection Association and supported Sea Research Foundation as its educational anchor. The association seeks to engage the shipping industry in greater awareness of conservation issues related to the oceans and to educate the public about ocean conservation issues.

Mr. Drakos had a great interest in the aquarium and also in Institute for Exploration. He was an avid follower of Dr. Robert Ballard's explorations, and he took particular interest in the work of Immersion Learning with Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the nation.  He became involved with the Immersion Learning program in the Boys and Girls Club of Scottsdale, Arizona, attending various Immersion-related events there when he and his wife of 62 years, Teeny, were wintering at their Scottsdale home. He was responsible for recruiting former trustee and television personality Hugh Downs to serve on the Sea Research Foundation Board of Trustees and re-engaged Mr. Downs in recent years in the work of Immersion Learning.

In addition to his wife Teeny and son, Trustee Peter Drakos and his wife Shonah, Mr. Drakos leaves behind his eldest son James and his wife Karen of Greenwich, and his son Andrew and Debra Drakos of Mystic. He also leaves behind eight grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sister, Effie Drakos Reilly.
Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, August 26 at 11 a.m. at Calvary Church, 27 Church Street in Stonington Borough. Burial will follow with full military honors at Stonington Cemetery.  The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening from 5 to 9 p.m. at Mystic Funeral Home at 51 Williams Ave., Route 1, Mystic.

About Sea Research Foundation, Inc.
Mystic Aquarium, Institute for Exploration and Immersion Presents are divisions of Sea Research Foundation, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. The mission of Sea Research is to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through education, research and exploration.

This press release was published on August 25, 2009.