John B. Psaltis

John was born February 26, 1933 in Athens, Greece to Erasmia and Vasilis Psaltis. John lost his father during the war and was forced to become responsible for supporting his mother and sister at a very young age. To provide food for his family, he would do whatever it took to put food on the table. This included any odd jobs, even dangerous ones, such as delivering eggs to the German Generals. This was the beginning of his life-long commitment to family and friends. Despite limited formal education and a difficult start, John was successful in many aspects of his life.

From 1952-1957 John played professional soccer as the goalie for the Panathinaikos Greek National team.

In February 1959, John and his sister, Sophia, landed in Minot, North Dakota, on their way to New York to seek a better life. While visiting a friend in New Jersey, he attended a Greek Dance where he met his future wife, Helen Polychronopoulos. He asked her to dance, and that was the beginning of their 65 year life together.

They were married on June 21, 1959. John was always the life of the party, taking control of the dance floor, dancing the jitter bug and Hasapiko with Helen. He worked in a factory, became a barber, owned his own barber shop, and later a restaurant. Their lives were filled with hard work, but he always made time for family and friends.

On December 26, 1961, Bill was born, and on August 3, 1966, Mia came along. A year and half later, they moved to Florida where he became a partner in Florida Fur Cold Storage in St. Petersburg, FL. Through the years, he expanded his interests, including developing the real estate properties on Sophia Circle and Mia Circle and opening the Fashion Goldsmith jewelry store.

John was a member of St. Stefanos Greek Orthodox Church in St. Petersburg, where he and his sister were influential in building the church and establishing the new community. He served on the Parish Council and was President in the early years. He was a 50- year member of the AHEPA and also a member of the Laconian Society of Clearwater.

John loved boating, fishing, riding motorcycles, dancing, coaching and playing soccer, and golfing.

He was a loyal friend and loved his family unconditionally, always.

John is survived by Helen, his wife of 65 years, his daughter and her husband, Mia and Mike, and their children, Sophia (24) and Joseph (22), his son, Bill, and his children Yianni and Eleni. Preceded in death by his mother Erasmia Psaltis and sister Sophia Manos.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to St. Jude.

Funeral services honoring John were held on October 7th, 2024 at St Stefanos Greek Orthodox Church.