Bill Bafaloukos

Bafaloukos, Bill (Vasilios)
age 79, beloved husband, father, and papou, was born on November 30, 1935 in the village of Vouni on the island of Andros, Greece. He entered into heaven on February 26, 2015 at his home in Tempe, AZ with the comfort of his family. Bill left home at the age of 14 after World War II to work in Athens. At the age of 17 he joined the Greek Merchant marines where he sailed the world on two different oil tankers, the Sea Thunder and the Petros until he was 22 years old. He came to the U.S. in 1957 at the Newport News Virginia and made his way to Chicago to be with his Uncle. He met his wife, Dorothy Andrews and was married May 24, 1959. Bill and Dorothy moved to Phoenix in 1959 and had three children, Nicholas, Anthony (Tony) and Katina Marie (Tina). He worked a the Flame restaurant in downtown Phoenix until 1960 when he saved up enough money to buy the The Busy Bee Cafe on 1st Avenue and Washington with his Uncle George and Brother Gust. He moved to Tempe in 1978 and retired in 1996 as a Restaurateur after 46 years in the business owning 4 restaurants and one nightclub, with his brothers and sons, throughout Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Mesa, AZ. In retirement he once again traveled the world visiting Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, and taking his entire family to Greece in June of 2014. Bill is preceded in death by his parents Andonis and Katarina Bafaloukos, his eldest sister Froso Stratis and son, Anthony (Tony) Bafaloukos. He is survived by his wife of 55 years Dorothy, son Nicholas (Lisa), daughter Katina " Tina" Wilder (Kevin), grandchildren Tyler, Alexa, and Christopher, his eldest brother Leonard, brother Gust, his twin brother Athanasou (Tom), younger sister Olga Spertos, and youngest brother Stephanos and many family and friends. He was a 52 member of the Order of Ahepa (American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association) and received his lifelong membership status in January 2014 from the Tri-City Chapter 454. He was one of six founding families of St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church in Chandler, AZ. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and the entire Greek community of Arizona. A visitation will be held on Monday, March 2, 2013 from 6-8:00 PM with a Trision Sevice at 7:00 PM at Tempe Mortuary, 405 E Southern Ave, Tempe, AZ. Mass of Christian Burial will follow on Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at 10:00 AM at St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church, 2716 N. Dobson Rd, Chandler, AZ. Interment will follow at Valley of the Sun Cemetery, Chandler, AZ. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Chuch, 2716 N. Dobson Rd, Suite 101, Chandler, AZ 85226 in memory of Bill Bafaloukos. Arrangements entrusted to Tempe Mortuary, Tempe, AZ.