Drosos “Russ” Spirtos passed away peacefully surrounded by family on September 3, 2021.

Russ was born in Clairton, PA, in 1936, and moved to Tarpon Springs at age 11. After graduating from Tarpon Springs High School in 1954, he completed Army basic training in Fort Jackson, SC, and studied Biology at Emory University and Florida Atlantic University.

Russ met his wife, Eva, in Miami, and returned to Tarpon Springs in 1969, with their two daughters, Marianne and Nicki. He taught science at Tarpon Springs Middle School before opening his first real estate office, in 1972, across the street from St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, where he personally welcomed many families to Tarpon Springs over the years.

Russ loved to fish, and he loved to tell stories about the boat that he and his twin brother had growing up on the Anclote River. If Russ wasn’t fishing with his twin, Mike, he was watching a baseball game or playing backgammon or chess. He always wore his lucky Rays cap for the games, and would famously invite every friend and family member for a game of backgammon or chess. Russ maintained lifelong friendships with his high school classmates. Always a teacher, Russ taught us to appreciate our heritage with his love of stories about ancient Greek history and literature.

Russ enjoyed many summers with Eva at their home on the Aegean island of Imvros, where they spent endless days of friendship, fishing, dining, dancing, and, of course, backgammon.

Loving husband of 58 years to Eva Spirtos, Russ is survived by his daughter, Marianne McDonald, and her husband, Brian McDonald and their two children, Ariadne McDonald and John McDonald; by his daughter, Nicki Spirtos, and her husband, Michael Smallridge, and their daughter, Alexandra Smallridge; his sister Evelyn’s children, Maria Samarkos Klonaris and her son, Theo Klonaris; Anna Samarkos; and John Samarkos; by his brother Michael’s son, Anthony Spirtos; his brother George’s wife Nancy and their daughters, Heather Spirtos, and her husband Kieran Murray, and their children, George and Rose; and Michelle Spirtos, her husband Michael Daly, and their children Cailum, Maeve, and Noah; and his nephews Nick Hados and his husband Ken Cook; Anthony Hados and his wife Sylvia, and their children Alexander and Stephanie. Russ was predeceased by his mother, Mary, his father, Anthony, his brother George, his niece Marie-Elisa, his sister Evelyn and twin brother Michael.

Service will be on Wednesday, September 8, 2021, at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 36 N Pinellas Avenue, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689. Viewing from 12 PM to 1 PM at the Cathedral, followed by interment from 1 PM to 2 PM, and procession to the graveside service at Cycadia Cemetery, 1021 E Tarpon Avenue, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689.