Evangelos George Tsoutsounakis
November 14, 1940 - March 17, 2021
Evangelos G. Tsoutsounakis died of cancer on the evening of March 17, 2021. He was a kind and thoughtful person who endured his diagnosis with the same grace and dignity in which he lived his life. Even in his last days he was more concerned for the suffering of his family and friends than his own. He will be remembered for his love and generosity towards all. A proud Cretan, he was born in Anopolis, Sfakion in November of 1940. As a young man, he served in the Greek military. Despite losing his father at a young age, he later followed his footsteps as a cobbler in his village. He eventually decided to leave Crete and join his brother and uncle in the U.S.. After early years with extended family in Canada and Salt Lake, he moved to Southern California where he began a successful restaurant, the Tip Toe Inn. Ten years later he returned with his family to Salt Lake City in 1979. In 1982 he established Astro Burgers on 39th South & State Street with his cousin and sister-in-law John and Chrysoula Lyhnakis. He was a faithful supporter of the Greek Orthodox Church and a member of the Minos Chapter of the PanCretan Association of America. We will miss his mandinathes - recalled from memory or composed impromptu for any occasion. He expressed his joy and sorrow through traditional songs and rizitika in his passion for the culture of his native land until the end. He was loved dearly by his children George (Elpitha), Rania (Mark), and Chris (Cassandra), and grandchildren George, Margo, Vaggeli, Pavli, and Dimi. He is survived by his brothers, Christos Tsoutsounis (Nitsa) of Salt Lake City, and Pavlos Xeroudakis (Evgenia) of Chania, his sister, Georgia Androulakis of Chania, and many adoring neices and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, George and Ourania (Kriaras) Tsoutsounis, and his sister Zoitsa Koulieris (Niko) of Paleochora and brother-in-law, Niko Androulakis. The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to all of the staff at the Huntsman Cancer Institute who cared for ‘Angelo’ over the years - he exceeded every statistic and expectation.
~ May his memory be eternal.
A viewing will be on Sunday, March 21, 2021 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 279 South 300 West, Salt Lake City where the Trisagion will begin at 7:00 pm. The funeral service will be on Monday, March 22, 2021 at 11:00 am, also at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Interment following at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
Remembrances may be made in his name to the Greek Orthodox Church of Salt Lake or the Huntsman Cancer Institute.