ANDREW T. VARLOW

Andrew T. Varlow Andrew Theodore Varlow passed away at the age of 79 in his beloved home in San Rafael during the early morning hours of Sunday, December 11th, 2011 after a prolonged battle with lymphoma. He is reunited with wife and soul mate Kathleen Varlow, whom he lost on September 19th, 2009. Andy was born Andreas Varelopoulos to Theodoros and Vassiliki Varelopoulos on September 15th, 1932 in Kalavryta, Greece. Through his autobiographical novel, Just Another Man, Andy told the world of the horror he endured as a child when in 1943 the Nazis massacred 1,000 males-including his father-and burned down the town. Andy, his mother and sister, Betty, narrowly escaped death from a burning building. Andy came to the United States in 1951 at the age of 18. He subsequently served in the US Army and became a naturalized citizen. After settling in the bay area, Andy went on to great success as a businessman and property owner including his role as one of the six founding members of the Union Square Association which was instrumental in re-vitalizing San Francisco's now famous shopping district. A self-described "cynic," Andy never hesitated to share his opinions and especially enjoyed the repartee with his customary breakfast groups in the east bay and Marin. But the counterpoint to his cynicism was his never-ending generosity, not only to the people around him but to causes he believed in. Aside from being a businessman and philanthropist, Andy embraced writing later in his life and published two novels and a collection of short stories. He will be missed as the patriarch of a loving family sprawled throughout Marin and extending into the East Bay. Andy Varlow is predeceased by his first wife Penelope Varlow, and is survived by his sister Betty Katzourakis, of Athens, Greece; his four children Celia Manitsas, Marietta Monroy, Theodore Varlow and John Prather; son-in-law Oscar Monroy, Taso Manitsas - both son-in-law and best friend to Andy and in his home at the time of death-and daughter-in-law Janice Varlow who was a tireless and loving caretaker. Andy is also survived by his grandchildren, Nicole Manitsas, Gregory Manitsas, Andrea Manitsas, Alessandra Monroy, Michelle Monroy and Sophia Varlow. A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, January 8th 2012 from 1-5 PM at the Corinthian Yacht Club, 43 Main St., Tiburon CA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made to one of Andy's favorite causes: National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unwanted Pregnancy, or The Lymphoma Research Foundation.