Tony Protopapas passed away to be with Jesus Christ and his father in heaven on Tuesday evening, January 30th, 2024, at 10:35 p.m. He was 92 years old and didn’t want anyone to worry or be sad because he lived a good life.

He was born on March 22nd, 1932, in the village of Perachora, a 20-minute trip up the mountain north west of Loutraki Corinth Greece, which is now a resort town on the Mediterranean Sea a little over an hour from Athens. Tony (aka Anthony) was a kind, humble, hospitable, gracious, generous, practical, and loving soul who was all about family and ensuring his was well cared for. When he boarded the boat to Canada his father told him to aways ‘Take care of your family’, and so he did. He educated his daughter, helped raise his granddaughter, was a good provider to his family, was devoted to them and loved them very much. He was very close to his wife as they did everything together for 64 years. His family owned an olive farm. He immigrated to Canada in 1952 after being brought up during World War II and the Greek Civil War in Greece and was always supportive and helpful to others as he was raised in a loving family. They were occupied as they lived near the Corinth Canal and endured trials, tribulations and atrocities, but he was part of a loving family and community that helped one another survive.

Once arriving in Canada his life changed and he was able to prosper within the Greek, Canadian, and American communities and in the restaurant business.  He worked in various taverns and convention centers, and owned three of his own restaurant businesses, eventually moving to Tarpon Springs, Florida. He traveled back and forth to his homeland in Loutraki during retirement where he was able to experience it and his family in a pristine state, not at all like when he left it.  He retired near the beach in Tarpon Springs.

For enjoyment Tony and Sophie loved socializing with friends at community clubs and dances, walking, swimming, and bicycle riding at the parks and beaches on the Florida Suncoast.  They also enjoyed helping to raise their granddaughter who earned her MBA, enjoyed playing ice hockey, and was captain of her university team at Castleton University.

Tony is survived by his wife Sophie Protopapas; his daughter Catherine Protopapas; his granddaughter Courtney Gauthier; and nieces and nephews in Ontario Canada, Baltimore Maryland and Corinth Greece.  Being the youngest of seven children, he is predeceased by his sisters Effie Karavasilis, Marika Nikolou, Afroditi Konti, Dimitra Papadakos; and his brothers Kostandino Protopapas, and Nicholas Protopapas. We will miss him so much. We love him to the moon and back and know he is now our angel in heaven.

Services will be held at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 36 N Pinellas Ave, Tarpon Springs, Florida, on Friday, February 9^th, at 1:00 p.m. in the afternoon. He will be laid to rest afterwards at Cycadia Cemetery, 1021 East Tarpon Avenue, Tarpon Springs. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.