John Christos Harbilas died peacefully in his sleep on his 80th birthday, February 4, 2026. He was born in 1946 in the village of Davies in the Peloponnese region of Greece to the late Christos and Konstantina (Bekos) Harbilas, the 6th of 7 siblings. He immigrated to the United States in 1956 by ship with his mother and siblings to join his father in Harrisburg.
John graduated from John Harris High school in 1964 and attended Dickinson college before graduating from Franklin and Marshall in 1970. He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War and was stationed in Europe, which allowed him to use his R&R in Greece. Upon his discharge, he briefly taught classes at Central Penn Business School; however, he left the teaching position over a disagreement about the dress code for instructors.
He met his wife Kathy while changing a lightbulb on the front porch at his parents' home—she lived nearby and had stopped on her walk to admire his father's flowers. They were engaged a year later and married in November 1978.
John worked alongside his family in several Harrisburg restaurants over many years including the Elite, the State, the Esquire, and Michael’s Café. He was a confident and competent cook and enjoyed feeding his family and friends and providing meals for many even when his restaurant days were over. In 1980, he left the Elite restaurant to intern with a tax accountant and thereafter started his own accounting practice. Mr. Chen was his first client.
As his practice grew, his work with his accounting clients led him to pursue other ventures, becoming a trusted advisor not only in tax matters, but commercial real estate, land development, business development, immigration applications, general contracting, estate administration, and the list goes on and on. He always went above and beyond for those who counted on him.
He never missed a GOYA event with his children, driving vans full of teens to basketball tournaments, dances and camp retreats. He used his experience and gumption as a leader of the local Greek festival for many years. He was a member of the Order of AHEPA Chapter 64. He served as Parish Council President of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral and frequently attended services, often at the candle stand to greet parishioners as they entered. He also handled the awarding of the prestigious Three Hierarchs Scholarship for high school seniors in the parish.
When space became available in his long-time office at Second and Walnut, he started an Orthodox bible study that has met continuously on Wednesdays since 2008. This bible study is staffed with a large group of rotating pan-Orthodox clergy and has been operating on zoom since 2020, allowing attendees to join virtually from all over the country. This was a great source of pride and joy for John.
In recognition of his many years of dedication to the church, John was invested as an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Order of Saint Andrew, with the name Eftaxias and notably served as the Co-Chair of the Patriarchal Green Initiatives Committee.
He read extensively, mostly about American history and Orthodox Faith, and amassed a large library. He jogged faithfully, with a slow shuffle that could go for many miles at a time. He traveled the country and the world with his family—on many once-in-a-lifetime trips – China, the Galapagos, and most recently visiting the Holy Lands, Mount Athos, and Kenya.
John's gift was showing up. He was the first to arrive, the last to leave, and the most likely to give 110%. He will be remembered for his quiet generosity and his steadfast love.
In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his brothers Timothy and Theodore, his sister, Stavroula (Bekos), and his son-in-law, Father William George.
In addition to his wife of 47 years, Kathy (Martin), John is survived by his three children, Tina (Lazarus) Mayoglou of Erie, Pennsylvania, Peter (Lauretta) of Charlottesville, Virginia, and Amy Maria (Daniel) Lie of White Haven, Pennsylvania and his seven grandchildren, Helen, Cosmas, Theodore, Georgia, Marina, Constantine, and Ioannis. He is also survived by his brother Elias (Helen) and two sisters, Georgia Nichols and Niki Vovakes; his brother in law, David (Laurel) Martin and sisters-in-law, Katina Harbilas and Lisa Cannaday. He was Uncle John to nieces and nephews, Connie (Randy), Christ, Kathy (Nick), Crist (Christine), George (Gill), Maria (Mike), Nick (Jen), Mike (Mary), Christina, Connie (Nektarios), Stacy (Jimmy), Pela (George), Christos, Sarah (Simon), and Nathaniel (Anna), whom he loved and who all loved him very much.
Visitation will be held Monday, February 9th from 9:30 to 11:00 am at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 1000 Yverdon Drive in Camp Hill, with the funeral service to follow.
The family requests that donations in his memory be directed to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral or to Orthodox Christian Charities of Greater Harrisburg (OCCGH), 5501 Old Locust Lane, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17109.
