Mathew Balasis

Mathew Balasis, 80, of St. Petersburg, departed this life on January 11 ,2024. He was born on January 19, 1943, in McDowell County, WV, the eldest child of Adamantios “Tommy” Balasis and Mary Genadopoulos Balasis. Mathew grew up with his brother John and sister Markella in Kimball, where his parents owned and operated the West Virginia Grocery. Teenage Mathew was fascinated with how things worked, especially electronics. He assembled a sound system for the exterior of his parents’ grocery which played Christmas music for the town during the holiday season, a tradition that continues to this day. Mathew furthered his expertise in electronics with engineering courses at West Virginia University. It was there on a bitterly cold day that 18-year-old Mathew persuaded a lovely coed, Suzy Arzet, to warm up with cocoa and donuts. Mathew and Suzy were inseparable from that day and married in 1965.

Mathew, who had since enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, served for four years, including a one-year tour of duty in southeast Asia as a forward air controller and radio operator (ROMAD). His final duty assignment brought Mathew and Suzy to Tampa, Florida, where Mathew served with the Strike Command at MacDill Air Force Base. He was honorably discharged in 1968 with the rank of Staff Sergeant, at which time he began work at ECI, later E-Systems, and subsequently Raytheon, in St. Petersburg. Mathew retired from Raytheon in 2004 after 36 years as a Senior Principal Project Engineer for satellite communication systems for the U.S. Air Force.

Mathew and Suzy welcomed four children, Adamantios, Maria, Ewana, and Markella, and raised their family in Tampa, and then St. Petersburg. Family vacations usually involved a road trip or a camp site. Mathew and Suzy raised their family to love the things they loved, in a flurry of breakfasts, beach days, bicycle tours, Little League games, DIY projects, train museums, fishing and canoe trips, and white board moments. He loved a great prank, a good cigar, and classic war movies.

Mathew was an avid Boy Scout for nearly all his life. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in 1960. He continued his relationship with Scouting into adulthood, finding a home with Troop 301 in St. Petersburg. He served in various leadership positions for the Troop and greater Tampa Bay district and mentored many on their own path to Eagle. His service to Scouting was recognized with the Silver Beaver award and his selection as a torch-bearer for the 1996 Summer Olympics torch relay. Mathew strongly believed in the values of Scouting and made many life-long friends through its programs.

If you knew Mathew, then you knew how much he valued his Greek heritage and his Orthodox faith. His father was born on the island of Chios and came to the U.S. in 1939. His mother was the daughter of immigrants from Milos. Mathew was active in the Tampa Bay Greek Orthodox community since 1968 at both St. John the Baptist in Tampa and St. Stefanos in St. Petersburg. He was a proud member of AHEPA. Mathew exemplified servant leadership. His roles in the two parishes included service on the parish council and choir, but his real passion was for youth work. Mathew loved teaching catechism school, led the acolyte program, and served as a GOYA advisor. His faithful support of church ministry for many years was recognized with the Archangel Michael award. Mathew was an enthusiastic provider of pancake breakfasts, meals for the needy, Christmas pageant props, or transportation to any event; he really loved a road trip. In retirement, he attended church services as often as he could, always jumping at the chance to spend time in worship.

Mathew is survived by his wife of 58 years, Suzy Arzet Balasis; children, Adamantios Balasis, Maria Balasis, Ewana (Dwight) Forde, and Markella Balasis; brother, John (Cindy) Balasis; sister, Markella (Jimmy Joe) Gianato; and a large extended family.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 18 from 5 to 7 pm, with a Trisagion service at 6 pm at Blount & Curry, 605 S. MacDill Ave, Tampa. A Divine Liturgy will be celebrated on Friday, January 19 at 10 am followed by the Funeral service at 11:30 am at St. John Greek Orthodox Church, 2418 W Swann Ave, Tampa. Interment with military honors at Florida National Cemetery will follow at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to St. John Greek Orthodox Church or Suncoast Hospice.