63-year-old Staten Island man still missing; Family says he may have been carrying large sum of cash

STATEN ISLAND (WABC) -- Friends and family members of a missing Staten Island man are continuing their efforts to find him, and they now say he may have been carrying a large sum of money.

John Kambakakis, 63, hasn't been seen since last Wednesday morning, when he was walking near his home on Cromwell Avenue in Dongan Hills.

His daughters have filed a missing persons report, and the NYPD is investigating.

"I hope he's OK. We love him," said Kristina Kambakakis, the missing man's daughter.

John Kambakakis is described as a loud and lovable man who dotes on this family and treats strangers like friends, but now he is missing.

"I'm asking if you see him and think it's him ask him. Maybe he needs help. If not, oh well you keep going. He might need some help somewhere," Kristina Kambakakis said.

The 63-year-old grandfather from Staten Island was last seen Wednesday morning.

He was first spotted at the local 7-Eleven, and then wearing a black jacket and blue jeans at a diner in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. But where did he go afterwards?

He is 5'5", 200 pounds, has salt and pepper hair, and speaks with a Greek accent.

"This is totally out of character for him. It's not like him. His kids and grandchildren are the whole world, he wouldn't just up and leave them," said Kathleen Lucchese, the missing man's niece.

John's nieces were out looking for him at Clay Pit Ponds all morning on Tuesday. They believe his cell phone pinged from this area.

"Looking for anything, phone, wallet, clothes, any signs of disruption, so far nothing," said Darlene Lucchese, the missing man's niece.

John Kambakakis lived with his two daughters and five grandchildren. His days were filled with routine: visiting friends, getting coffee, but he always came home at night.

"Happy go lucky guy, friendly, do anything for anybody, sweetheart of a guy," Kathleen Lucchese said.

"I can't imagine not seeing him again," Kristina Kambakakis said.

Relatives say he could have been carrying a large amount of money with him because he runs a yearly Super Bowl pool.

The pool could have run north of $20,000, and it may have included employees of Staten Island University Hospital, where Kambakakis worked.