Constantinos “Gusty” Klimis, age 85, passed peacefully into the arms of our Lord on December 15^th, 2022, surrounded by loved ones.  He was born November 7^th, 1937, in Kalymnos, Greece. He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Kalotina Klimis. He died as he lived, uncompromising in strength and surrounded by those he loved.

Gusty was orphaned at a young age and immigrated to the United States in 1947 with his brother and sisters. Gusty is survived by his elder sister Georgia Georgiades and he rejoins his brother Theofilos Klimis, and his sisters Irene Gerakios, and Themelina Koulianos who preceded him in death.

Gusty refused to succumb to the negative expectations set for him as an immigrant orphan in the early post-war days. Gusty fought with vigor to both survive and thrive in the new world. He worked in restaurants, served in the navy, became an accomplished foreman, and even a restauranteur. Through it all he found love everywhere he went. Every struggle and adversity he faced in life he turned into a lesson.

Gusty met Kalotina, whom he initially called “Frenchy” because of her hairstyle, in Campbell, Ohio. Gusty and Kalotina’s story could itself be adapted into a movie, it took years of persistence but nothing could stand in the way of the love they had for each other. They wed on the 16^th of January in 1965 at Archangel Michael Cathedral in Campbell, Ohio in the midst of a blizzard. They had four children, Pelagia “Peggy” Klimis Bradshaw (Harold Bradshaw), Demetrius “Jimmy” Klimis (Kathi Klimis), George Klimis (Christine Klimis), and Michael Klimis (Jeremy Campbell). Gusty had four grandchildren: Nicholas Patides (Melinda Patides), Constantinos “Dino” Klimis, Anastasia “Sia” Klimis, and Christopher Klimis. Gusty additionally had many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews, too many of which to name here.

Constantinos gave his family the upbringing that he never had. Despite the turbulence of his life he found a way to impart normalcy, stability, love, understanding, and kindness through the structure of a family. Gusty gifted his children, grandchildren, and the entire family with his endearing strength, love, and determination and it will survive through generations to come. May his memory be eternal!

Constantinos’ life

Brother, husband, father, like

Alive through Christ’s light