Obituary of Athanasios L. Papathanasiou

Athanasios “Tom” "Thanos" L. Papathanasiou, of Denville, passed away peacefully while vacationing in Spetses, Greece on October 19, 2018. He was 75 years young.

Born and raised in Aliatros, Greece to the late Loukas and Kristallo Papathanasiou, he was one of eight children. He was raised helping his family take care of their family farm where they owned horses, cows, goats, and more. When he became of age, he joined the Greek Military and proudly served his country. There he acquired and became a very skilled Custom Tailor. Greece is also where he met his soulmate and love of his life, Maria Strongylos. They married in 1966 and started their family. In 1968 Maria, Athanasios, their children, and Maria’s sisters came to the United States. They moved to Jersey City and continued growing their family before settling down in Denville, NJ. While in the U.S. Athanasios continued to put his custom Tailor skills to use. He was always an entrepreneur at heart and started investing and developing in the Real Estate Industry. Athanasios  continued with his roots by purchasing land in NJ and starting his own farm in which he purchased horses, cows, goats to place on his farm to continue the family tradition and show his love for animals. He was a very hard and dedicated worker always providing for his family. As a hobby, he was a Guest Host on Hellas FM in Astoria NY and WPSO 97.1 in Port Richey Florida, where he became very popular and loved.

Athanasios was a very accomplished, well-loved, well-respected, one of a kind man; he did it all. He was a creative poet, an aspiring singer, world traveler, an excellent cook, we will especially miss his rotisserie Easter lamb, and an expert at palm reading and the ancient art of coffee cup reading known as Tasseography. When there was a party, he was the life of it telling amazing stories, always making people laugh and have a good time. He truly was an exceptional husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, Godfather, and friend. He will be sorely missed and forever treasured in our hearts and souls.

He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 40 years, Maria. Left to continue his legacy of love, laughter, and hard work are his beloved children, Loukas Papathanasiou, Stefanos Papathanasiou and his fiancé Stephanie Gomez, Kristal Hyer and her husband Robert, and Georgia Siemion and her fiancé Anthony Alessandra; his cherished grandchildren, Jonathan Luck Hyer, Athanasios Stefanos Papathanasiou, Brandon Michael Siemion, George Peter Papathanasiou, Nicholas Dimitri Siemion, Jaclyn Ann Hyer, and Maria Alyxandra Dlugolecki; his caring siblings, Lakis Papathanasiou, Yannis Papathanasiou, Kostadina Papathanasiou, and Taxiarchis Papathanasiou; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

Public Visitation will take place on Monday, October 29th from 5 - 9 pm at Norman Dean Home for Services, 16 Righter Ave., Denville. Funeral Service will take place on Tuesday, October 30th at 10 am at St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church, 1447 Sussex Turnpike, Randolph, NJ 07869. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, 85 Pleasant Hill Rd, Chester, NJ 07930. Please leave a condolence and special memory for his family.