Theophanis Katsulos, 93, of Tarpon Springs, Fla., passed away peacefully June 23, 2023, at Suncoast Hospice in Palm Harbor, Fla. He was born in Chicago, May 1, 1930, to Anthony Katsulos and Anastasia Gavares

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 66 years, Mary Harras Katsulos; his two children and their spouses, Elena Katsulos- Sabbouh and Jean Sabbouh, of Dunedin, Fla., and Anthony and Teresa Katsulos of Plano, TX; his grandchildren, Maria and Theophanis both of Plano, TX; and his sister, Beatrice Gramann, of Hilliard, Ohio, and her children, Richard Gramann (Mary Kragie) Paul Gramann (Lisa), Margaret Knerr (Michael), and Joseph Gramann. Other survivors include nephews George Cantonis (Maria) and James Cantonis (Allie), both of Belleair, Fla., and niece Cynthia Cantonis Heller (Steve), of Palm Harbor, Fla., and their families.

Theo as everyone called him, grew up in Chicago, attended the Illinois Institute of Technology and held numerous advanced degrees, including masters, in chemical engineering and environmental sciences. Before moving to Tarpon Springs in 1964, Theo and Mary lived in Chicago, Mobile, AL, and London, England.

Theo served as a member of the U.S. Army Chemical Corps, then went on to work for Standard Oil.  Before moving to Tarpon Springs as the chief chemist managing the complex chemical tanning process of chamois for Acme Sponge & Chamois, which was once the largest such operation in the Western Hemisphere, and founded by his brother-in-law, Mike Cantonis. He was Vice President and Operations Manager of the international business which for more than 50 years was a fixture of the Tarpon Springs community and its venerable sponge and chamois industry, and contributed to so many people’s lives over many decades. Theo had an unbreakable love of, and commitment to, the Greek Orthodox Church and the community of Tarpon Springs.

Theo was a longtime member and past president of the Kiwanis Club of Tarpon Springs. He was an adventurous world traveler, with his personal and business travel taking him dozens of times to every corner of the globe, from Europe including his homeland of Greece, to New Zealand and Asia, where he summited the Great Wall of China by himself near traditional retirement age.

Theo was a gentle, unselfish and soft-spoken man who treated everyone fairly and with empathy; he spoke directly and honestly, and always with words of wisdom that were welcomed by his children, grandchildren and so many others.

A wake will take place June 27, 2023 at 10:00 am, with the funeral service to follow at 11:30 am at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, which is located at 36 N. Pinellas Avenue, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689, (727) 937-3540. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Nicholas Philoptochos (Friends of the Poor) which is located at 18 Hibiscus Street, Tarpon Springs, Florida 34689 (727) 944-3366

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Dobies Funeral Home Tarpon Springs, Fla., dobiesfuneralhome.com