Angela Boutos Roussos

January 27, 1925 - July 1, 2024

Angela, AKA Angie, Aunt Angie, Mrs. Angela and Yia Yia, passed away peacefully at home on July 1, 2024 at the age of 99 with her family by her side. Angie, the last of her generation, is finally celebrating a long awaited reunion with her beloved husband John, and other missed loved ones, in her typical celebratory style with a well made double Manhattan and some swing dancing. Angie is survived by her three children and children-in-laws Georgeana, Peter, (Mary) and Andrea (Chris); her devoted grandsons John, Thomas and George; nephews and nieces countrywide; and quite a few wanna-be-family-members-by-choice who loved Angela and were equally loved by her.

If one’s life story is truly only known when you get to the finish line then Angela’s life was a big ol’ love story. Her life was big because of the quiet choices of love she consistently made throughout her life. As the keystone in our lives and a self-described independent “cockeyed optimist”, Angela held our extended group of family and friends together through love, loyalty, and laughter. Born to Greek immigrants and a woman at a time when neither was respected, Angela matured to be a strong individual who challenged societal and cultural expectations of her time. She also was loads of fun.

Angie began her journey January 27, 1925 in Oakland, California as the youngest daughter of George and Anna Boutos, sister (or “Shitster” as she liked to say) of Chris and Jean. She relished debating with her intellectual Dad who frequently posited “you should have been born a boy”, ensuring that Angie became a second wave feminist long before it was a movement. She grew up in a tight knit Greek community and showed her trade mark optimistic resilience by never complaining about the hardships of the depression (“everyone was experiencing the same”) or WWII (“I danced my way through it as a hostess at the Stage Door Canteen”). As a young woman she worked in the war effort at the Oakland ship yards, even launching a hull at one point, and at Southern Pacific Railroad. These jobs surrounded Angie with a variety of people and at an early age, and in an earlier restricted era, she open heartedly delighted in those she met across all cultures, races, sexual orientation, and genders. After healing from a broken back as a result of a car accident Angie found work with the Oakland School District and used the settlement money to buy an uncharacteristically impractical but none the less glamorous mink coat. Ever pragmatic and down to earth, this was likely the last impractical thing Angela ever did.

In 1954, unmarried, a restless single needing a change, Angela decided to travel and made her first big trip to Europe visiting her roots in Greece with her parents and then discovering post war Europe with her good friend Sally. It took Angela over 60 years to move back to California as she met the love of her life, John Roussos, on a stop over in New York City, got married in 1955 and made New Jersey her home. Angela and John’s marriage was a romantic story of two people who were happiest when together and who loved, liked, and respected each other immensely. Despite Angela swearing she would never marry a Greek, she ended up doing exactly that, explaining that John was not your typical Greek male, an unusually lucky find for this early feminist. Angela and John shared a love of family, quickly had three kids and the ensuing years revolved around child rearing and gathering friends and family for epic celebrations that are still talked about. Angela and John made a great team providing a stable home for their children while also encouraging them to see the world and forge their own paths. Angela loved her large extended family, her children’s spouses Mary, Soozie and Chris; her in laws Helen, Mary, Arry, Pat, Plato, Chris, Lou, Ruth and Bonnie; and was one of the family keystones who gave her children, her nephews and their families the sense of being part of a loving, larger whole. She was enormously proud of her clan, frequently commenting that it amazingly included so many “unique”, “exemplary” and “special” individuals—never realizing that it was her gracious perception that made it so.

Angela encouraged her kids to travel and after they flew the coop, Angela, initially with John, hit the road again, venturing to Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, Greece, Saint Martin, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico as well as many places across the United States. John and Angela retired to Las Vegas in 1992 where she enjoyed life and quiet time with her “Sweet Baboo”.

John passed when Angela was 79 and she again showed amazing resilience adjusting to living alone for the first time in her life, taking up swimming with a passion, building a lovely support network, and volunteering. At 90 Angela realized she was no longer a safe driver and spared her kids the painful “you can’t drive” talk, hung up her car keys and moved to San Diego to live with Peter, Mary, and John. Angela was well cared for in San Diego but her Bay Area daughters, friends and relations demanded face time so she made frequent trips to her “old stomping grounds” in the North. Angie enjoyed a full social calendar and could often be heard telling anyone who would listen what a “grand time” she was having. Whether at a quiet home gathering or singing “Jersey Girl” at a big wedding, Angela was a party girl and she loved to rock! She was Bruce Springteen’s oldest, most ardent groupie and as a 93-year-old channeling her teen-aged self, Angela had the thrill of a lifetime when she told him exactly that face to face while shaking his hand. Angela owned her age proudly and loved nothing better than to announce how old she was in order to amaze strangers who always assumed that she was decades younger. She was known to round up shamelessly as she did when maneuvering to meet Mr. Springsteen post show.

Throughout her later years, even after being diagnosed with cancer, Angela never let go of her role as Mom and did everything she could to help her “chickadees” (children, children-in-laws, and grandchildren) and worked hard to be as independent as possible so as “not to be a burden”.

Angela lived a good life and was a good hearted person whose defining feature was frequent acts of generosity, graciousness, and gratitude. She was a devoted friend, nurturing her friendships across decades and distance and was the “ride or die” for many who found solace and support in her blunt yet sage council. She transcended her age with vibrancy, impressed her grandsons with her hipness and inspired many who have said they want to be just like Angie when they get older. Angela’s motto of “you’re never too old to learn” made her the poster grandma for successful aging. She never stopped self-reflecting and grew into the ultimate version of herself: loving, loyal, stoic, resilient, kind, generous, accepting, forgiving, curious, discerning and fun. She remained vital, witty and engaged until the end. As a result, Angela was as she perceived others to be: unique, exemplary, special.

Angela enthusiastically loved her family and friends; Springsteen and opera; Champagne, Manhattans and fine food; murder mysteries and romantic comedies; and was a news junky until the very end so it is not surprising that she also had no patience for pretense, prejudice, science deniers or conservative politics.

Angela was beloved by many and the world is a sadder, dimmer place without her. A celebration of her life will be held but in the mean time, in lieu of flowers we ask you to tell someone they are loved and special, listen to Jersey Girl while raising a toast to the coolest mother ever and support your local hospice.