John Spero Conits

John Spyros Conits passed away on Monday, October 5, 2015, at the age of 101. Born in Sparta, Greece in 1914, he was the oldest son of the late Spyros and Kanella Conits. Mr. Conits immigrated to the United States in 1940. A respected member of the Greenville community for over 75 years, he watched it evolve from a small town to a thriving city and would often say, “There’s no place like Greenville — not anywhere in the world.” He loved to invest in real estate and owned and operated numerous restaurants in the Upstate, including the People’s Lunch; the Washington Cafe; the Sanitary Cafe; and Pete’s #3, now known as Pete’s Original, the oldest operating restaurant in Greenville. In his retirement, he enjoyed spending his afternoons at Spero’s Pete’s Original too, on Stone Avenue, making sure “everything was running just as it should”. In 1956, he returned to Sparta, Greece, where he met and married his loving and devoted wife of 60 years, the late Athena Gleka Conits. He was the proud father of two sons, Spero John and George John Conits, and seven grandchildren. Mr. Conits was devoted to his family, his church, his friends and his customers. One of the early founders of Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, he remained an active member and led several fundraising efforts including the building of the downstairs Chapel. Mr. Conits loved visiting with his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed sitting down with them and giving them advice from his long and adventurous life. They are all blessed by his devotion, energy and wisdom. He was very involved with the Laconian Society of North America and Canada; loved to dance at every opportunity; never missed a Greek Festival; was an avid hunter in his earlier years; and most of all, cherished his customers all of his life. He had an incredible work ethic and passed this love of family, church, work and community to his children and grandchildren. Mr. Conits is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Spero John and Rochelle Yarborough Conits; and George John and Tammy Athans Conits, all of Greenville; his grandchildren: John Spero and Jamie Allen Conits; Alexander Spero Conits; Athena Evdokia Conits; Heather Elizabeth Conits; Capers Brooks Williamson; Ian George Conits; and Athena (Nina) Denise Conits; a brother, Peter Conits of Baltimore, Maryland; and a sister, Bessie Skenteris of Greenville; and many, many Godchildren, nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be Thursday, October 8, 2015 at 11:00 AM at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral with Father Tom Pistolis officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Wednesday, October 7, 2015 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at The Mackey Mortuary with the Trisagion service at 7:00 PM. In lieu flowers the family requests donations to St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 406 N. Academy St., Greenville, SC 29601.