Johnny Kottalis

KOTTALIS, Johnny - Of Flushing, age 60, passed away Monday, August 8, 2016 at 11:25AM, at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI.

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, August 11, 2016 Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 2245 East Baldwin Road, Grand Blanc, Father Angelo Maggos officiating.

Visitation 1-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Swartz Funeral Home, 1225 West Hill Road.

A Trisagion Service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Johnny was born September 8, 1955 in Flint, MI. He had a incredible talent for art and had many scholarships while in elementary school. He attended the Flint Institute of Arts. He drew beautiful portraits and thoughtful pictures for loved ones. He graduated high school from Southwestern Academy early at the age of 17 in October, in the meantime he was tutoring at Southwestern and working at GMI. He then went back in June to walk with his graduating class with honors, gold chords and scholarships. While at GMI, pursuing an engineering degree, he longed to become a pediatrician or child psychiatrist. So he decided to go to U of M Flint for a year, but did not complete his studies there due to an unfortunate near death experience. He then pursued his true love, which was cars, and he received his Master Mechanic Certification from Mott College. He then opened his own first business, American Muscle Cars & Classics in Flint, where he tirelessly restored unique classic cars. Later in life, he went to work at Ford Motor Company for 24 years, following in the footsteps of his father and several other family members. He had a deep love for his family, friends, and animals. He was a big dog lover and even bred Chow Chows for many years. However, his biggest passion in life was cars. He liked to restore muscle cars, drag race, and drive cross country to attend car shows. He even earned the nickname "Trans/Am Johnny" for his love & knowledge about Pontiac Trans/Ams. One very remarkable accomplishment was starting the All-Star Scratch Bowling League in the 70's, which is still on-going to this day. This brings the best junior bowlers in Genesee County together at their respective lanes to compete against one another.

Surviving are his mother Mary; his daughter Maria Kottalis (Joel) D’Aigle; brothers Nick (Lemonia) Kottalis and Dino Kottalis (Modesto Ca), sister Chrissy (Kane) Maks; also his nieces and nephews, Tommy and Lambro Kottalis, Alexis Peters and Kane Maks Jr., and Mary and Sophie Kottalis (Modesto, Ca); and aunts and uncles and cousins and friends. He was Preceded in death by his father Tommy Kottalis.