“People use it lightly, but I’ve only known one person who truly was. “There’s a saying that someone is bigger than life,” Papajohn said. Vici Papajohn, a friend of both Varvouris and Tina’s, said he not only had a respect and love for people around him, but was also a brilliant man who could talk about everything from natural health remedies to his time in the Greek military. “Never met a stranger, was always very generous, gave people lots of food - assumed they ate like he did.
“He was always very friendly and outgoing to people,” Andrews said. Jerry Andrews, also in the charter business on Pensacola Beach, said he went fishing with Varvouris several times, and he often sent local and out-of-town customers to his restaurant. “You could sense it in the room - it was like you were eating at your grandfather’s house or your uncle’s house, the whole atmosphere there. “The entire place was a family,” Redman said. Charter Captain Paul Redman said he frequented the restaurant for about 15 years, sharing stories and experiences with Varvouris and fellow fishermen. Varvouris was well-known in the local fishing community, who would often take their catches to Aegean Breeze for him to cook. “He’s going to be missed just in everybody’s life. “It’s hard to find a place to start when you’ve been married 33 years…,” she said. The couple met while working at the Angus restaurant in Pensacola - he as a chef, she as a waitress. Those who knew Varvouris describe him as “larger than life,” “one in a million” - someone who never encountered a stranger, and gave infinitely more than he received.īut after more than three decades of marriage, his wife, Tina, said it’s hard to sum up her husband in a few words. “In his own way, he touched so many people, whether it be through the food or just him caring about them in general,” Gilmore said. His standing room-only funeral Monday at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Pensacola was a testament to the number of people he impacted, Gilmore said, between his family, fellow fishermen and the customers he loved so much. And he had a big heart - if you ever needed anything, he’d be sure he did his best to get it for you.” “Just passionate about the world and food and friends. “My dad, he was a very passionate man,” said his daughter, Liz Gilmore. A husband, father and grandfather, Varvouris had a love for his family, fishing and cooking Greek food to share with anyone and everyone.
A native of Greece, Varvouris touched many lives locally through the restaurant, which he and his wife, Tina, opened in 1997.
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