Zaharias Karounos

In Loving Memory of Zaharias Karounos

Who was Zaharias Karounos?

He was a son, a brother, a husband, a father, an uncle, a godfather, a grandfather—a man.

He was, in the truest sense of the phrase, a Renaissance man: theologian, scholar, historian, philosopher, entrepreneur, master chef, poet, singer, dancer, and martial artist. Yet, remarkable as these accomplishments are, they do not fully define him.

Most unequivocally, he was, he is, and he always will be An Eternal Eschaton, a man whose life transcended the boundaries of time, whose legacy continues to live in those he loved, taught, and inspired.

In his own words, he reflected on the hardships that shaped him:

"See, when you are grown up, you have a choice. But me, when I was a little boy, I did not have a choice. I did not have a choice to miss school because of the Second World War, and I did not have a choice to miss school again when the Greek Civil War came about. I did not have a choice to pick figs in the heat of the summer with no gloves and bear the milky sap that dripped from the fig leaves, burning and itching my skin worse than a bad case of poison ivy and like a second-degree burn at the age of seven. I did not have a choice to shine shoes at 1111 Broadway in New York to bring money home to the family. I did, however, have a choice to involve all my brothers in a diner called Six Brothers, which I named, and I made sure every brother was part of it, even those serving in the navy and those who did not have a dollar to contribute."

These words reveal the heart of the man. He did not dwell on what life denied him; instead, he focused on the choices he could make, choices rooted in sacrifice, responsibility, generosity, and family. Though war stole his childhood, it never stole his dignity. Though hardship marked his hands, it never hardened his heart.

His greatest wealth was never measured in possessions but in the family he built, the wisdom he shared, and the lives he uplifted.

On July 24 in the year of our Lord 2026, Zaharias Karounos reposed peacefully, surrounded by the love of his daughters, his sons-in-laws, and his  grandson, Christopher.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Maria, whom he affectionately regarded as his Caryatid, the steadfast pillar of his life. He also joins his strong, hardworking father, Paraskevas, the "lumberjack," whose strength became his foundation, and his devoted and loving mother, Angeliki, whose faith and sacrifice nurtured the man he became.

He is survived by his daughter Angela (Phillip); his son Paraskevas (Kimberly); his daughter Eleni (Francisco); his son Dionisios (Cristina); and his five grandchildren Zacharias, Christopher, Alexandros, Summer-Anne, and Marlee Belle.

His earthly journey has ended. His story has not. His voice echoes in the lessons he taught, his laughter in the memories he leaves behind, and his spirit lives on in every generation that follows.

Whether it comes to pass or not, Να γίνει ή να μη γίνει, he taught that we are defined not by what happens to us, but by the choices we make in response. And with the courage of his ancestors, Ἢ τὰν ἢ ἐπὶ τᾶς ("With your shield or on it"), he lived with honor, perseverance, and unwavering devotion to those entrusted to his care.

May his memory be eternal.

Αἰωνία ἡ μνήμη.