Gus Stathis, originally of Oak Lawn, Illinois, at almost 100 years of age, passed away peacefully near his home in Clearwater, Florida on Friday December 21, 2012 after a long struggle with kidney dialysis. Beloved husband of the late Mary Stathis and father of the late James Stathis, he is survived by his daughter, Georgia Stathis of California and his grandchildren Alexandra and Constantine ‘Gus’ Nunes, James, Timothy and Meghan Stathis and great grandchild Brennan O’ Boyle Junior. Loving brother to the late George Stathopoulos who is survived by his wife, Toula and their son Dr. George Stathopoulos and family, Mr. Stathis left many nieces and nephews as his legacy.
His fervor for life kept him optimistic until the very end. The last surviving sibling of eleven brothers and sisters, Mr. Stathis came from extreme poverty with nothing but an obsessive focus on fulfilling his dream of becoming an American citizen. He left Greece in September 1939 leaving behind everything he knew. He served in both the Greek and US military serving as a medic in New Guinea. He loved both his countries keeping close ties to both until the end. Starting out as a dishwasher and a busboy, he moved into the restaurant business and then found real estate, then became a builder and then a land developer. Later he became a member of the Chicago Board of Trade. As his businesses grew, he fulfilled his imperative of raising the consciousness of his Greek Heritage within the American mindset while still honoring his American Citizenship. He was a major philanthropist supporting many charities, one of which was the recently opened National Hellenic Museum where he and wife Mary contributed the Library Wing. He established a seat for Greek History at the University of South Florida and supports many Greek Orthodox churches, schools and organizations. He believed that anything was possible and never stopped believing that until the end.
The Florida viewing is on Thursday, December 27, 2012 between 4 pm and 7 pm at Serenity Gardens Moss Feaster at 13401 Indian Rocks Road, Largo, FL. His final resting place is at Evergreen Park Cemetery in Evergreen Park, Illinois whose funeral is on Thursday January 3, 2013 after the evening viewing on Wednesday January 2, 2013. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the National Hellenic Museum of Chicago, Ss. Constantine and Helen Church and St. Spyridon Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois as well as Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Clearwater, Florida, or your own local Greek Orthodox Church.
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