Lambros "Louis" Antonis

1930 - 2016

Lambros "Louis" Antonis

December 18, 1930 - May 31, 2016

Lambros "Louis" Antonis passed away on May 31, 2016 in Sacramento, California at the age of 85. Lambros was born on December 18, 1930 in Karitsa, Lakonia, Greece to Panagiota and Christos Antoniou, who predeceased him. Lambros is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Ekaterini "Rina" and his devoted children, Yiota (Tom Makris), Maria, and Chris (Keri). He was the adored Papou of Eleni and Katia Antonis and Dimitris Makris. He is also survived by siblings Paul (Antonette), Ernie (Adamantia), and Eleni Manokas; sisters-in-law Magdalene Antoniou and Aglaia (John) Capetanos, and brothers-in-law Elias Bithas and Nikos (Lemonia) Bithas. His cherished siblings George, Angeliki, and Theodore; parents-in-law George and Maria Bithas; and brothers-in-law, Diamantis Zafiris and Nikos Manokas predeceased him. He leaves many adoring nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and cousins in the United States, Australia, and Greece.
Lambros' childhood was dramatically affected by the sudden and premature death of his father, and by World War II, and the ensuing Greek Civil War. To support his mother and siblings, Lambros left school and became a shepherd, overseeing the family's herd of goats, and cultivating their farmland in Greece. After his honorable discharge from the Greek Army, he immigrated to the United States in 1961, joining his brothers, Paul and Ernie, in San Francisco. The three brothers shared a deep and abiding love for one another. Once in San Francisco, Lambros attended Marina Adult School to learn English, embraced America as his new home, and became a naturalized citizen. He worked as a waiter at renowned restaurants Veneto and Castagnola's at San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf until his retirement. Lambros was a member of the Foresters of America, the Hotel & Restaurant Employees & Bartenders International Union Local 2, member and past Vice President of the United Arcadians of San Francisco Chapter No. 35, and participated in the Greek Independence Day Parade as an Evzone. He was a member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church where his maternal grandfather, Christos G. Zoumboukos, was a founding member and where Lambros raised his family honoring his religious and cultural heritage. In 2011 the Holy Trinity community bestowed upon Lambros the Lifetime Achievement Award for his many years of dedicated service on the Parish Council, the Makaria group, and as a greeter in the Narthex.
Lambros was fondly known for his boundless energy and goodwill. He loved people, entertaining, and dancing. He particularly enjoyed reading people's fortunes from the grounds at the bottom of their empty Greek coffee cups as well as sneaking additional helpings of food onto people's plates at dinner parties when they were not paying attention. He was an avid gardener and loved cultivating orchids. Lambros was selfless and caring not only toward his own family, but toward his neighbors and friends, helping them with life's daily needs as they arose. In his retirement, he enjoyed the companionship of his beloved feline family, Harley and Bud. His family is grateful for the loving care provided by his physician, Dr. Caroline Tsen of Kaiser Permanente, South San Francisco and his kind and attentive caregiver, Nena Camasura.
Family and friends are invited to attend the Prayer Service (Trisagion) Sunday, June 5, 2016 at 6 pm at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 999 Brotherhood Way, San Francisco and the funeral service on Monday, June 6, 2016 at 11 am also at Holy Trinity. Interment immediately following funeral service at Greek Orthodox Memorial Park, 1148 El Camino Real, Colma. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lambros' memory to: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, the Alzheimer's Association or a charity of your choice. Funeral service directed by Adam Bousiakis of Whitted-Atkins Funeral Home, FD 837.