George Vavaroutsos

GEORGE VAVAROUTSOS, 75 CALEDONIA - George Vavaroutsos, 75. of Caledonia passed away November 1, 2013, after a year and a half long battle with cancer. He was born March 2, 1938, in Mystras, Greece; the son of Panagiotis and Kalliope Vavaroutsos. He married Anna Vavaroutsos (née Koulouras) in Athens, Greece, and he lived In Caledonia, IL and Barrington, IL. George migrated to Canada at the age of 18, and then made his way to the United States where he lived the American dream all of his life. A serial entrepreneur, he reached many people throughout his career: he was the proprietor of Black Steer Provision in Chicago, IL, G&A Construction of Barrington, IL, Lancaster Properties in Caledonia, IL, and, along with his wife Anna, the much loved co-owner of Basil Café in Loves Park, IL. He belonged to, Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church of Rockford, IL and Saint Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church in Palatine, IL. Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Anna; his two sons, Peter and George Jr.; his daughter, Kally; his two lovely grandchildren, Kristin and Demitri; his siblings, Dina (James) Tsichlis, Nick (Titika) Vavaroutsos, Pauline (Steve) Goranitis, James (Dora) Vavaroutsos, Voula (Nick) Karagiannis; many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; many nieces and nephews; and many great friends. Predeceased by his mother, Kalliope; his father, Panagiotis; and his brother, Louis. Service at 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 6, 2013, in St. Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church in Palatine, Illinois, with the Reverend Father Peter Balkas officiating. Burial In St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery, 1185 West Algonquin Road, Palatine, IL. Visitation from 5 until 8 p.m. Tuesday November 5, 2013, in Fitzgerald Funeral Home, 1860 S. Mulford Rd, Rockford, IL, with wake at 7 p.m. Memorial may be made to, in lieu of flowers, please donate in honor of George Vavaroutsos to the Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation, PO Box 23827, Tampa, FL 33623-3827 (https://eforms.moffitt.org/donation.aspx?typeid=3). Please specify that your donation is for research. Express online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.