Constantine Nicholas Culianos

Gus was born in Nisiros Dodecanese Greece to Nicholas and Anastasia Culianos on February 16, 1928.

At the age of 10, just before the Hilter invasion, Gus along with his mother and second brother John immigrated to the New York City in the United States, to join his father who had come before them.

He was raised in Manhattan and educated in the New York City schools, graduating from Samuel Gompers High School with honors a merit scholarship. Following high school he graduated from the City College of New York - College of Engineering.

He then served in the US Army from 1952-1954 during the Korean War, ranked as a military policeman, and 8 years in the reserves with an honorable discharge.

Gus was an entrepreneur at heart even owning a dry cleaning business while in college. After the Army he took over his father’s restaurant, The Captains Table, a famous seafood house in Manhattan, and continued his lifelong career of opening and running many successful business corporations. Among them were Horatio Management for large Manhattan high rises and other real estate, Baya Wine and Liquor, and Freshway Air, Inc. an environmental business that sold and served commercial air cleaning and order control systems.

During this time he met and fell in love with his adoring wife of 50 years, Sharon Nassar of Toledo, Ohio. They were married on December 29, 1974. They were of like minds serving God through their Greek Orthodox faith all their lives.

Gus and Sharon lived in Lake Success, Great Neck, Long Island for almost 30 years while he ran his businesses in Manhattan and Sharon was teaching in the Great Neck Public Schools.

While living in New York Gus was a member at the Archangel Greek Orthodox Church, Port Washington and Lake Success Golf Club, and especially active in the Gold Coast Ahepa Chapter 456 in Manhattan NY eventually becoming President in the 1990’s. During his tenure for the chapter he encouraged and brought to membership approximately 60 new younger members. To this day, Gold Coast Chapter 456 is the largest, most active philanthropic Ahepa on Long Island.

Gus was a superior athlete playing varsity basketball for his high school as well as his church youth group at St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral in Manhattan. He excelled in all sports and later in his 30’s he enjoyed golf – winning dozen of trophies and serving on the board of Lake Success Golf Club where he had the gift of forming many friendships.

In 1983 when Gus and Sharon purchased their first newly built condo in Naples, Florida he enjoyed golfing, vacations several times a year and holidays with family until his retirement at the end of 1999 when Naples became their permanent full time residence. At that time, he and Sharon were members of St. Katherine Church and joined Tiburon Golf Club as full golfing members. He continued to enjoy the sport and friendships until he retired from the game at 91 years of age.

Gus was an active avid volunteer at his church in Naples. He especially enjoyed and worked diligently for the annual Greek Festival. He was well known for cooking his delicious Greek tomato sauce at the festival, running the car raffles and beer booths each year.

Gus loved opera – he knew and could sing many arias by memory with his lovely singing voice. He sang in his church choirs for over 74 years with the last 22 years at St. Katherine.

Friends and loving family always enjoyed Gus’ sense of humor, quick wit, kindness, generosity, and gentlemanly demeanor.

He is predeceased by his mother and father: Nicholas and Anastasia Culianos; brothers: John and Spero Culianos; brother-in-law: Dr. Ronald Nassar; and sister-in-law: Maria Culianos.

Gus is survived by his wife of 50 years: Sharon; nephews: Nicholas Culianos (Patricia), Thomas Culianos, Bradley Nassar (Elizabeth); nieces: Stacey Emhardt (Richard); Calliopi Skoumpourdis (Mano), Mary Vangas (Dimitri), Molly Wyse (Matt); as well as many loving grand nieces and nephews.

The family extends their sincere thanks to Vitas Hospice, Claudette Verchio, Father Demetre Mott and many friends who expressed their kindness by speaking to and acknowledging Gus when they saw him.

A visitation will be held at St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church (7100 Airport-Pulling Road, Naples, FL 34109) on Friday 08/30/2024 from 10AM-11AM. After the visitation will be the funeral service beginning at 11AM. Following the funeral service is the entombment at Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens (525 111th Avenue N, Naples, FL 34108).

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Gus’ memory to: The Capital Building Fund of St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church – 7100 Airport-Pulling Road, Naples, FL 34109 / https://onrealm.org/StKatherineNaples/-/form/give/capitalcampaign