BOSTON – Spyros F. Stathas (‘Spiro’), son of the late Fotios Stathas and Garifalia (Infantis) Stathas, passed away quietly, surrounded by beloved family members at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. He was 96 years old.
Spiro was a living profile in courage and kindness who was devoted to his faith in God, family, and his beloved Hellenic homeland of Northern Epirus. Born in 1928 in Lesinitsa, Spiro suffered many hardships as a young boy. He lost both his parents during World War II, the victims of Nazi atrocities. As a result of the war, he was forced to stop his school education in the second grade. A war orphan, he was raised by his devoted grandfather, George, who left a profound impact as they faced starvation and poverty during the war years and ensuing Greek Civil War of 1946-1949. As a teenager, he risked his life escaping to freedom to Greece proper. In the small village of Stavrodromi in Epirus, Greece, he met and married the love of his life, Avgerini (Kaloudis). They were married for over 40 years until his beloved Avgerini died of a sudden heart attack in 1993 at the young age of 64.
He pursued the dream of a better life in America and arrived in 1956 in New York with his wife and young son, Alexandros. He came to Boston within a year later and began working at Jimmy’s Harborside restaurant in Boston. After leaving Jimmy’s, he went on to open two restaurants, Spiro’s Coffee Shop in Dorchester, MA, and later King Pyrrhus Restaurant in Roslindale Square. His loyal customers loved Spiro and his family for their hospitality and warmth. After a successful restaurant career of over 40 years, he retired in his 70’s and lived in Dedham and then Walpole, MA.
Spiro was most proud of his family – his six children, 12 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Spiro was predeceased by his daughter Lisa (Garifalia) Johnson in 2008 after facing a three-year battle with cancer. Spiro was most devoted to his Orthodox faith and to St. Spyridon, his patron saint. From the time he arrived in Boston, he regularly attended church services with his family at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Boston, MA. He also was a lifelong member of the Northern Epirotic Society of Boston – having been recognized for his many years of dedicated service in 2004. In his retirement years, he enjoyed reading, listening to Greek music, spending time with family, and sharing his amazing garden vegetables and figs with others.
He is survived by his son Alexandros, wife Anna, and their son Theodoros; his son Fotios (Frank) and wife Maria, their son SpiroAnthony, daughter Magdalene Stathas Carellas and son-in-law Demetrios Carellas; his son-in-law Mark Johnson, and grandchildren Nicholas and Matthew; his son Theofilos (Phillip), wife Marie and their children: Dr. Adam Stathas, wife Dr. Marina Kushnirsky and their daughter Zoe, Melissa and husband John Celli and their daughter Madison, and Alexandra Stathas and her partner, Brandon Donahue; his daughter Maria (Alexia) and husband Ubaldo Dicenso and their children Alexia and Gianna; and his son George, wife Carol and their children Avgerini Garifalia (Ava Gail) and Nicholas (Niko).
The funeral service was held on Monday, September 30 at St John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Boston. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the above-named church. Interment at Brookdale Cemetery, Dedham, MA.
