Hercules Gus Spanos

Hercules G. Spanos (Herc), 97, died peacefully on January 15, 2025, at Stella Maris in Timonium, Maryland. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother-in-law, and friend to many.
He is survived by his seven children, Constance Kerrigan (John), Stephanie Morville (Buck Coleman, deceased), Kathleen Mendez (William), Timothy Spanos (Kristin), Lisa Marshall (Donnell), Allison Bessette (Paul), and Stacey Knemeyer (Michael), as well as 15 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by many cherished nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his first wife, Theodora Pappas Poletis, second wife, Jean Lee Foreman Spanos, and a dear partner of 18 years, Margaret Simpson, as well as four siblings, Evangelos Spanos, Claire Cambourakis, Demetra Balmer and Nicholas Spanos.
Herc was born in Philadelphia, PA and lived there until the age of 7, when his parents moved to Jackson Heights in New York, NY. He graduated from Admiral Billard Academy in New London, CT with the intention to enlist in the Navy but due to medical concerns was unable to enlist. He began working with his brothers at their father's company, (Hudson Maintenance) and they named the business Spanos Painting Contractors, Inc. when they located an office on Redwood Street in Baltimore, Maryland.
His love of the water and bridges led him to begin a lifelong career as a contractor in the ship and steel bridge painting industry. His company painted many notable bridges such as the Bourne Bridge in Mass, Chesapeake Bay Bridge, the Delaware Memorial Bridge, and many others. He was very proud of their work on the numerous lighthouses on the East Coast. He particularly enjoyed the work-site visits, and made sure each job was done well.
Herc relocated to Jacksonville, Florida in 1975. He attended St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church where he was a former Treasurer on the Parish Council.
Herc had a strong devotion to his Greek Orthodox faith and contributed his services and resources to the Annunciation Church in Baltimore, St. Demetrios Church in Parkville, and St. John the Divine Church in Jacksonville, Florida. He was also a major contributor to the Greek Orthodox St. Photios Shrine in St. Augustine, Florida.
He had a love of sports and travel, visiting Greece, Scotland, Iceland, France, England and many other countries. Most of all, he enjoyed a good slice of lemon meringue pie!
In 1990 he moved back to Reisterstown, Maryland and later to St. Elizabeth Hall at Stella Maris in Timonium, Maryland.
Those who knew him will miss his laugh and smile. He was always stopping to talk to people in store aisles, in restaurants, treating them like a good friend and never missed telling them about his seven children. Herc's generosity and love for his family and friends were an inspiration to all who knew him.
Mr. Spanos will lie-in-state at the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 2504 Cub Hill Road, Parkville, Maryland on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, from 10:00 to 10:45 AM after which the Funeral Service will be held. Interment will be in the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Cemetery immediately after the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church; 2504 Cub Hill Road; Parkville, MD 21234. For those desiring to send flowers, they should be sent to Ruck Funeral Home, 1050 York Road, Towson, Maryland, 21204 by Tuesday afternoon.