Anthony "Tony" Psaris

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Anthony “Tony” Ferdinand Psaris (beloved husband of Shelly, father of Mike and Nick, grandfather of Jasmine and Justin, and best buddy of Fritz the 80 lb Giant Schnauzer). At the age of 82, he passed away peacefully on Jan 11th, 2025.

Tony loved sharing his life with others. Between being an insurance salesman, a bartender, a restaurant manager, and a restaurant owner, he relished engaging in discussions on life, politics, business and history, as well as his Greek and German heritage.

Born on Aug 22nd, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York to Rose Psaris (née Lang) and John Psaris, Tony’s life was defined by his passion for sharing his life with others. Tony attended Erasmus Hall in Brooklyn, New York and then Eastern Military Academy in Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island and Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. After working with his father at the Parkway Grill in Old Westbury, he joined the armed services as a Military Policeman in South Korea.

Tony initially pursued interests in photography but soon returned to the restaurant business for the remainder of his working career. While working in New York City, he met the love of his life, Rachelle “Shelly” Leah Psaris (née Westreich). Tony and Shelly were married on Shelly’s birthday, February 7th, 1971.

After a few years living in Bayport on Long Island, they moved to Coram, Long Island with plans to raise their family. Tony worked as the Bar Manager at the Harborside Restaurant from 1980-1986 and then the Manager of the Royal Oak Diner in Bellport, Long Island from 1986-2004.

Initially retiring in 2004, he followed the siren call to reopen the Paris Diner previously owned and run by his father. His dedication to this effort saw him make the 1.5 hour car ride to Brooklyn and back every day. Even his diagnosis and treatment for prostate cancer would not stop his passion for running his own restaurant. Having brought the diner back to life in his childhood neighborhood, he retired again (this time permanently) in 2008. Reopening the Paris Diner would be Tony’s proudest accomplishment.

Tony loved the cars of his youth and sailing. He spent his retirement sailing his C&C 29 from Mount Sinai Harbor and continuously improving his Studebaker Avanti R1, winning first place at a competition in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in 2011.

Tony was a proud Unitarian Universalist and spent many years as a member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Stony Brook, Long Island. Beginning in 1983, he and Shelly also spent many summers at the Life On A Star 2 conference on Star Island in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. They were proud chairs of the conference in 1996 and continued to attend until 2019. Even though he was unable to attend during the final years of his life, Tony always considered Star Island to be his “spirit’s home”.

At the age of 76, Tony decided he needed a canine companion to see him through the remaining years of his life. Fritz, the Giant Schnauzer, arrived from Oregon in December 2018 and never left his side. Fritz brought great stories, funny pictures and years of joy for Tony. His favorite Giant Schnauzer joke was: “Silence is golden. Unless you have a Giant Schnauzer. Then silence is suspicious. Very very suspicious.”

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Shelly Psaris, his loving sons, Alexander Michael “Mike” Psaris, John Nicholas “Nick” Psaris, his grandson Justin Minghai Psaris and his best friend Fritz. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Psaris and Rose Psaris, his sister Mary Rose Psaris and his granddaughter Jasmine Linghui Psaris.

Tony's wish was to have all donations in his memory sent to Memorial Sloan Kettering's Child Life Services, which provides services that make hospitalization less traumatic for pediatric cancer patients. His granddaughter Jasmine, "the brightest star in the sky", benefited from these services and he wanted them to continue for other children as well. http://mskcc.convio.net/goto/tonypsaris

We will continue with Tony’s legacy of love and caring for everyone he met.

Visitation will be held at O.B. Davis Funeral Homes, located at 4839 Nesconset Highway, Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776, on February 2, 2025, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Service by family at 4 PM.

Closing words by the director is scheduled at the same venue on February 3, 2025, starting at 10:30 am. Interment to follow at 11:45 AM at Pinelawn Memorial Park, 2030 Wellwood Avenue, Farmingdale, NY 11735, at Lawn Crypt # 3, Plot A, Range 14, Block 1-50.