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BORN
1930
DIED
2014
Lewis Gundunas Obituary
May 14, 1930 - June 13, 2014
Resident of Half Moon Bay
Lewis Peter Gundunas died peacefully on June 13, 2014 after an eight - year battle with prostate cancer.
A Greek renaissance man, "Louie" Gundunas whose parents were from Greece, was the owner/headliner of the famed Balkan Village in Los Altos which opened in 1962 for two decades.
A superb showman, Louie's larger-than-life personality and acrobatic talent landed him in the Broadway cast of "Zorba", Merv Griffin Show, What's My Line, and the Ed Sullivan Show, who he lifted on his table. "I finally got the table I wanted," said Sullivan. Louie's special talent of 'picking up the table with his teeth and dancing is memorable to this day.
He met the beautiful nurse Peggy Jo (Weaver) on a blind date while serving in the Navy. They married in November 1955 and raised four children Peter, Susan, Rebekah and Kristina.
In 2011, Mr. Gundunas was honored by the Elios Society for his charitable work in the Greek American community. Louie was also a member of the Bohemian Club in San Francisco.
He is survived by his wife Peggy Jo Gundunas, their children; Peter Gundunas of Alaska, Susan Gundunas of San Francisco, Rebekah Gundunas of Burlingame and Kristina Gundunas-Smith of Wilton, son in-law, Scott Smith, daughter in law, Rebecca Gundunas and six grandchildren; Rachel Gundunas, Nathan and Matthew Avery, Korrina, Serrina and Tanner Smith. He is also survived by his sisters, Irene Papadakis of Fresno, Caroline Liviakis of Ross and brother Constantine Gundunas of San Jose.
The Funeral Service is Thursday, June 19 at 10:00am at The Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Cross, 900 Alameda De Las Pulgas, Belmont CA 94022
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made to The American Cancer Society and donations be made to the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church of San Jose and the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church of Belmont.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Lewis Gundunas
Sponsored by San Jose Mercury News.
parviz Rad
December 25, 2016
My deepest sympathy to all of Louie's love ones namely the
family. I was much saddened hearing he is no longer among us.
He was a very healthy looking man with so much energy as I
had witnessed.
I worked at Balkan Village as a bus-boy part time weekends in
early 70's as being a student at San Jose State college.
It was so entertainment and pleasing working there in many ways mainly
watching Louie performing his Ouzo dance followed by picking up a
table with his teeth rotating it around ( so amazing). He would often also
have all the guests standing up holding each other's hand dancing in a circle.
These memories all still are back on my mind which
truly are more pleasing that the best wine in the world. And all were originated by
Louie God bless his soul and my destiny .
Here are some of the staff or non staff that I can recall their names;
-- Peggy ( Louie's wife), As I recall she would off and on doing administrative work there.
A very friendly classy nice lady with a son and I think three cute daughters.
-- Pete/peter ( Louie's son), seems he has moved to Alaska ! he was not working there- Just
dropping by sometimes to see what is going on - At that time he was a teen very nice polite boy.
-- Jimmy who sometimes working as a bartender ( I think he was Peggy's brother).
-- Sonia, A sensual well respected lady doing the dance in occasions.
-- An elder Greek man playing Santoor followed by live musicians.
-- Mike/Mikey , he was Greek and head waiter working so fast and so hard always.
-- Oni ( not sure spelling), a waiter and a tall handsome guy also a student ( had an Asian girlfriend).
-- Chris, a waiter and yes Greek
-- Mahmood, a waiter who showed me how to light the candles.
-- Panos, a very good friend to me, a bus-boy and Greek ( had a very beautiful girlfriend)!
-- Jose , he was a cook there working very hard just about every time I saw him . Summer time
perspiring in the heat of the cooking and still keeping his cool being nice to everyone. Once told me that
he plans going back to Mexico when has enough saving to buy himself a house there.
As I heard, however, he was a passenger in the PSA plane which had a mid air collision with a twin
engine plane over the sky of Los Angeles where all the passengers of PSA got killed.
I suppose he was going back to Mexico buying himself a house after working so hard for so many
years saving his money ( VERY SAD story).
-- Louis, working as a dishwasher - a very hard working Spanish gentleman and a very nice man.
-- Other guys or gals who I cannot recall their name.
-- Parviz/Perry myself in my early 20's then from Iran working as a bus-boy and an engineering student.
Wow, time goes so fast. About 45 years has passed since my work there. Sooner or later we all will
enter the other side as Louie did. So we better enjoy the time by doing our best for one another and
ourselves in any manner, shape or form. Thank you
Jack Powers
July 13, 2014
Very sad to hear, he was a great talent and a great friend.
June 26, 2014
God rest his soul. My prayers are with Peggy, and Pete, and "The Girls". What an amazing American success story he was! My family took me out to dinner at 'The Beev" one night, and life was never the same! I grew up spending many happy hours at the Balkan Village. I recall Louie & all the family roasting lambs every Greek Easter out in front. He had a great relaxed smile, but could be strict in a gentle way; he was a good influence on me. Louie was one of my brother bikers, and a good man. On behalf of all of us who rode with him, heard him sing tunes like "Afou to Pethevis", ate at the Balkan, owned an Athenians LP, knocked back a Metaxa, and /or watched Mr. Gundunas cook, dance, laugh and live...see you down the road, Brother. Love & respect, "Hawkeye Joe" Scott
Nikki Steady
June 25, 2014
My deepest sympahty to Peggy Jo and the rest of the Gundunas family. May our good lord continue to bless and keep you all.
Gail Mitchell
June 19, 2014
Very strangely, on Friday the 13th while out to dinner with another couple in SF (the wife is Greek), I made a joking reference about her dancing with a table held between her teeth. I really hadn't thought about that in years.
I am 62, and about 50 years ago, my late dad, Al Mitchell (a San Jose jeweler whom I believe knew Mr. Gundunas), would often take my mom and me to dinner at the Balkan Village. I learned about Greek culture music and food- particularly on Greek Easter when we went for the lamb roasted out in the parking lot!
What a coincidence that I should read he passed on the same day I had those memories of him, the restaurant and the floorshow!
His spirit (probably with a table between its teeth) was apparently dancing and flying all around those that he made happy.
Please accept condolences from someone whom he entertained so royally half a century ago and who will never forget him.
Gail Mitchell, Attorney at Law
Michael Kutulas
June 18, 2014
It was a sad day when the Balkan Village closed it's door. It's an even sadder day when we have to say goodbye to Louie. You were always the most caring, gracious and generous soul. I'll be playing Ouzo to your memory... may it be eternal.
Lisa Scott-Ponce
June 18, 2014
Robert & I have many sweet memories of Louie. He was a lot of fun & a wonderful man. Our deepest sympathies to the whole family.
June 18, 2014
Love from us,
Myra and Rick Hubacher
June 18, 2014
Dear Koumbaro,
You will be missed
My condlolences to Peggy Jo and your beautiful family
Maria Gillmore
Mike Herkenrath
June 18, 2014
Nono, thank you for showing us how to truly live with our hearts.
James Frangos
June 18, 2014
Louie as we all knew him, always a smile and a good word and what a voice, singing and table lifting with his teeth at the Balkan Village, on Broadway in Zorba in New York, at the Greek Food Festival in Belmont, we'll really miss him!
Dan Maloney
June 18, 2014
I still tell the story about that table in the Balkan with the teeth marks on the corner! Such a vibrant, generous soul. Such a wonderful, loving family.
Louie will be missed.
Pamela Lawrence
June 17, 2014
So many wonderful memories from the trip you led to Greece in 1974 (I think that was the year)! I was turning 15 and accompanied my mom, Marilyn Lawrence. My love for travel was launched during that trip. You will be missed.
Showing 1 - 13 of 13 results
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