Margarita Vlavianos

Margarita Vlavianos, beloved wife and mother, after a long, courageous battle with a myriad of health issues, entered her eternal rest on February 1, 2023, with her two daughters by her side. Born May 16, 1939 in Cortland, New York, Margarita was the only child of Greek immigrants from Smyrni, Asia Minor Greece. She spent her early years in Detroit, Michigan where her father, true to Greek immigrant fashion, owned a restaurant during the daunting Depression and WW II years. When her father’s health failed, the small family moved to New London, Connecticut to be closer to relatives who had immigrated there. Margarita endured a difficult childhood after her father passed away when she was only 10. But it did not deter her from helping her mother in every way she could. Through part-time jobs after school and on weekends, after high school Margarita was able to attend Mitchell College in New London. She was a member of the fencing team and a star of the college thespian club. After graduating with honors, Margarita accepted a civilian position at the U.S. Naval Submarine Base in New London. It was while she was employed there that she met her future husband Anastasios, who owned a restaurant near the base. They married in 1962, whereupon Margarita embarked on her new career, assisting her husband in the restaurant business. Together they opened several restaurants in southeastern Connecticut. After the births of daughters Aristea and Eirini, the young couple decided to move to a somewhat warmer climate, and in 1971 settled in Charlottesville, Virginia. It was here that they opened the first of several restaurants, the Expresso Italian Restaurant and Pizza on West Main St. They brought pastas from Connecticut with them, introducing Charlottesville to new tastes. Soon after that success followed the innovative Expresso Steak and Lobster House on Rt. 29. Margarita and Anastasios briefly ‘retired’ to Athens, Greece in 1984, only to return to Charlottesville a year later to open what may have been the most famous of their noteworthy restaurants, the Expresso Italian Villa on Emmet St., where they remained for over 20 years. After another brief ‘retirement’, they opened the Cavalier Diner in 2009, and handed the reigns to their oldest daughter a year later, whereupon they actually retired. Margarita had a sharp yet dry wit that kept everyone, especially her daughters, on their toes. She enjoyed dancing, loved to travel, adored the beach, was addicted to crossword and jigsaw puzzles and was a huge Neil Diamond fan. But most of all, she was the rock of the Vlavianos family. Margarita was the brains behind the operations of the family restaurants, and yet still had time to support her daughters in all their endeavors, both in the U.S. and in Greece. She was a lifelong member of the Greek Orthodox Church and was the typical Greek mother - feisty, stubborn, opinionated, yet attentive, supportive, generous, and loving. Margarita would go out of her way to make her loved ones happy, always deflecting attention off herself, letting others shine. All she had to do was to arch one of those big, beautiful eyebrows and you knew she meant business! Margarita was preceded in death by her parents, Aristides and Smaro Papadopoulos. She is survived by her husband of almost 61 years, Anastasios (Nick), daughter Aristea and her husband Salvatore, daughter Eirini and her husband Kostantinos, many beloved nephews, nieces, and cousins both in the U.S. and Greece, and numerous dear friends, in particular Barty and Anne Bryant of Richmond. Eirini and Aristea would like to thank the staffs of both UVA and Martha Jefferson hospitals who cared for Mom during her various stays in the past year, her wonderful home health nurse Cheri, and doctors John McKnight and Michael Ayers. Most of all, we would like to thank Dr. Lewis Owens for his excellent care over the last three years. Dr. Owens pulled several rabbits out of the hat caring for her challenging vascular issues; he became family to us and we will never forget all he did for Mom. Visitation for Margarita will be held Wednesday, February 8, 2023, from 6-8 pm at Teague Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held Thursday, February 9, 2023, 10:30 am, at the Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church on 100 Perry Drive, Charlottesville, immediately followed by a graveside service at Holly Memorial Gardens on Rt. 29N.