Sterios Gogos

Of Tonawanda, entered into rest April 10, 2023. Beloved husband of Maria (nee Vicopoulos) Gogos; devoted father of George (Jennifer) Gogos, Theodore (Deanna) Gogos and Athena (Theodore) Tsembelis; cherished grandfather of Evan (Brooke), Maritina (Howard), Steven, Teddy, Adam, Alexandra and great-grandfather of Mia and Nico; loving son of the late Theodoros and Agoritsa Gogos; survived by one of eleven siblings, Sotirios (Joanne) Gogos; dear brother-in-law of Fredericki (George) Kontras and the late Minerva (Harry) Lantzas; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation at the LOMBARDO FUNERAL HOME (Northtowns Chapel) 885 Niagara Falls Blvd., Amherst on Monday (April 17) from 4-8PM, Trisagion prayer service held at 7PM. Funeral held at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 146. W. Utica Street, Buffalo on Tuesday (April 18) at 10AM. Please assemble at Church. Interment at Elmlawn Memorial Park. Sterios worked at Bethlehem Steel for over 30 years. With his wife Maria, he owned Lewis Bar and Grille, and Athenas Family Restaurant. Donations appreciated to Hospice Foundation Buffalo or Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. Sterios Gogos 89, of Tonawanda, NY, Beloved husband of 60 years to Maria Gogos, passed away peacefully on April 10, 2023. Born on January 13, 1943, in the small mountain village of Distrato, near Ioannina, Greece. Sterios was separated from his family during wartime, he was relocated to Cinia, Romania, where he spent his teenage years. A lover of music and theatre, he soon joined a theatre troupe in Romania, which led to an unlikely reunion with his father and brother who happened to be in the audience of one of his shows. Shortly thereafter, he left Greece and emigrated to the United States and Buffalo, NY. He worked at various jobs, including Teds Hot Dogs and the Elmwood Lounge, where he met the family of his bride to be, his "darling" wife, Maria (Kompselidou) of Kolindros, Greece. They were married in Thessaloniki, Greece on July 29, 1960, and moved into a small apartment on West Utica St., walking distance to the Hellenic Orthodox Church of the Annunciation. They ultimately settled in Tonawanda, where they raised three children, George, Theodore, and Athena (Tsembelis). Sterios was also a retiree of Bethlehem Steel Corporation, where he worked for 42 years. During that time, Sterios and Maria were also the proprietors of two restaurants - Lewis Bar and Grill (1971 - 1979), in Niagara Falls, NY on Buffalo Avenue, and more recently Athenas Family Restaurant (1991 - 1998) on Young St. in Tonawanda, NY. "Steryouli" or "Mr. Sterios" was always ready to serve and greet customers with a smile. A kind, gentle, and truly happy soul he was a family man through and through, who was grateful for the simple pleasures in life; and appreciated every day he could be with his family and friends. An appetizer with an ouzo or a beer, and a game of backgammon with greek music playing in the background made him so very happy. Together with Maria, he loved entertaining and hosting family and friends for picnics, cookouts, lamb roasts, and of course, saturday night poker or backgammon night. There was never a day without home-cooked meals, greek music, singing, cocktail hour, or harmonica playing in the home. He was the music in our hearts and lives, and lives on forever in our hearts. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you all his caregivers, at Kenmore Mercy Hospital, Greenfields Continuing Care, and Hospice Palliative Care.