James W. Darras

October 22, 1949 - December 23, 2024

JAMES W. DARRAS 75, of Geneva, Ill. passed away on December 23, 2024. The son of the late William and Violet Darras.  Beloved husband of Georgia (nee Mangos) for 33 years.  Loving brother of Chris (Jean)  Darras and Nicholas (Maureen) Darras.  Brother-in-law to Dean and Louise Mamalakis, and Uncle to Christina, Billy, and Dori Darras. James holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Interior Design and Associate Degree in Architecture from Southern Illinois University. James Darras worked for over forty-five years as Project Manager/Senior Designer in commercial interior design.  He loved his profession and pursued   it with much passion and dedication. Other interests outside of architecture was singing with the Hellenic Choral Society of the Chicago Diocese and a longtime sports enthusiast supporting the Cubs, Bears, and Formula One Racing. The Architectural firms in his career include Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (Chicago, Il) Assistant Dept. Head; Perkins & Will Group (Chicago, Il) Director of Interior Design; Interspace Incorporated (Washington, D.C.) Vice-President. Cooper Cary Interiors (Atlanta, Ga.) Director of Operations; DePalma Group (Chicago, Il) Project Manager; and Silva Architects (Elgin, Il.). Some of his major projects from all over the world:  Standard Oil of Indiana & Standard Oil of London, England; Peoples Gas of Chicago; First National Bank of Chicago; First Wisconsin Center of Milwaukee & Madison, WI.;  Citicorp; Kirkland & Ellis of Chicago & Washington D.C.; Peat, Marwick Mitchell of Chicago, Il. ; Baxter-Travenol Corp, of  Chicago, Il.; Foote Cohen & Belding, Chicago, Il.; Peterson, Howell & Heather, Baltimore, MD.; Sarasota County Library, Sarasota, Fl.; Blanchfield Army Hospital, Clarksville, KY.; Ingalls Memorial Hospital, Harvey, Il.; Kuwait Stock Exchange ,Kuwait; Gulf Oil & Petroleum Corporate Headquarters, Cairo, Egypt; Banco de Occidente, Guatemala; and the Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Washington, D.C. Family and friends are requested to meet Monday December 30th  at Yurs Funeral Home, 1771 W. State Street, Geneva, Il. (630)232-7337. Visitation 9am to 11am.  Funeral service to follow at 11am.  Internment at Union Cemetery, St. Charles, Il. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 601 So. Central Ave. Chicago, Il.  60644-5089 For more information, please call Yurs Funeral Home of Geneva, 630-232-7337 or at yursfuneralhomes.com.Guest BookShareEmailPrint