Tom J. Tzouvelekas

Tom J. Tzouvelekas, of Greenville, S.C., passed away on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at the age of 91. He was a son of Greek immigrants, a loyal husband, a loving dad and grandfather and a pillar in the Greenville community.

While attending Greenville High School, he worked at his dad’s restaurant, one of the only diners in Greenville at that time, The Deluxe Diner. He attended Clemson and Furman Universities, playing football and basketball for both. His Clemson days ended early, as he was duty bound to serve in the Navy during World War II. Later he attended the Palmetto School of Accounting. He graduated from the School of Consumer Banking at the University of Virginia. He spent his career of 44 years in banking, eventually becoming Vice-President of South Carolina National Bank. He went on to support the commercial lending departments of Southern Bank & Trust and The First Federal of South Carolina. Tom was known as the top lender in South Carolina when he retired. Some of his proudest moments from his commercial lending days were helping small businesses getting their start and becoming successful.

Tom loved his Greenville community and served all of his days through the Augusta Rd. Kiwanis Club as President, Vice-President and Treasurer. He also served as Treasurer and Director of the Greenville County Cancer Society, Treasurer and Director of Cerebral Palsy of Greenville, and Treasurer, Vice-President and Director of the American Federation of Musicians. Tom was involved in United Way for over 36 years.

Tom Tz was also a professional musician. He began playing drums in his teenage years and continued to play drums with big bands, such as The Carolinians, Dean Hudson, Buddy Morrow, Charlie Spivak, and even The Glenn Miller Band at times. He had his own band called The Four Notes that he managed up until his last gig at The Brown Street Club back in 2010.

Banking, drumming, and serving his community were all very important to him, but his family was his upmost priority. He was predeceased by his wife of 64 years, Mitzi B. Brockman, his parents James and Sophie Tzouvelekas, and brothers George and Manuel Tzouvelekas. Survivors include his three daughters, Kathy Turner, with husband Ken Turner, Sandy Golden with husband Doug Golden and Jan Hopkins, with husband Lee Hopkins. He has a baker’s dozen of 13 grandchildren: Jeff Golden, Brian Golden, Carrie Casey Caudill, Kendall Fox, Mary Kathryn Manual, Emily Sargent, Corey Hopkins, Charity Dolphens, Lydia Hubka, Gabriel Turner, Sophie Hopkins, Ellie Guthrie, and Caleb Hopkins. He also has 9 great-grandchildren and many cherished nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be Sunday, February 18, 2018 at 2pm in the chapel of Mackey at Century Drive with Rev. Dale Sutton officiating.

The family will receive friends Sunday from 12:30 until 1:45 pm prior to the service at Mackey.

Arrangements by Mackey Funerals and Cremations at Century Drive, online tributes at mackeymortuary.com