• Visitation: Friday, December 29, 2023 from 10 am – 12 pm at ST. CONSTANTINE & HELEN GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH (2160 N Wauwatosa Ave, Wauwatosa)

• Funeral Service: Friday, December 29, 12 pm at ST. CONSTANTINE & HELEN GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH (2160 N Wauwatosa Ave, Wauwatosa)

• Burial to follow service at HIGHLAND MEMORIAL PARK.

Spiro Nikolaos Gorgolis

With heavy hearts, we remember the life and legacy of Spiro Nikolaos Gorgolis (85), who passed away on Christmas Day, in New Berlin, WI, surrounded by the love of his family and friends. Spiro, was born to Nikolaos Gorgolis and Aikaterini Tsiolkas, on April 24, 1938, in the mountainous region of Epirus. As the son of a shepherd, Spiro tended to the family’s flock from a young age until he left the shepherd’s crook behind for the kitchen apron in Athens, Greece working his way from porter to chef.  By chance he met Eleni Lingas in Athens who also had roots in Anthochori, marrying in 1969 and welcoming their first-born son Nikolaos in 1970; the same year Greek American George Krantz of Milwaukee, WI encountered Spiro at the Hilton Hotel Galaxy Restaurant while vacationing in Greece. He offered Spiro the once in a lifetime opportunity to come work for him at his restaurant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To Spiro’s surprise, George made good on his promise and returned to Athens months later with the golden ticket to America in hand. Spiro continued his upward mobility from a small village to Athens to a new life in America, where he worked tirelessly to secure passage for his wife and newborn son to start their new life in a strange land. His family grew by three more over the years with the birth of Athanasios (1973), Gregory (1975), and George (1980). Spiro realized the American Dream years earlier when he opened Spiro’s Coffee Shop on 85^th and Lisbon Avenue in 1974 and became a homeowner in New Berlin, WI in 1978 securing a proper education for his children. He brought his brother Konstantinos to America from Greece in 1979 to share the American Dream and sent remittances back to his family in Greece over the years to improve their lives.

Spiro dedicated his life to his family both here and in Greece and worked tirelessly to bring these two worlds together for his children and grandchildren; preferring to send his children to experience Greece over going himself. Spiro remained steadfast in his values of humility, integrity, encouraging peaceful and positive actions from his sons, and celebrated their accomplishments in private since he was a man of few words. His selfless actions provided the blank canvas from which his children were free to paint their own futures.  Retired life for Spiro included annual trips to Greece, daily visits with his friends at Gyros West, and waiting around anxiously for his grandchildren to walk through the door.

Spiro is preceded in life by his adoring sister Chrysoula. He leaves behind his cherished loving wife of 55 years, Eleni, his four sons, Nikolaos, Athanasios, Gregory, and George, his loving ever-loving grandchildren Sofia, Zoie, Eleni, little Spiro, and Alexandros, his sisters Antigone and Georgia, his brothers Giorgios and Konstantinos, as well as his extended family, friends, and the broader Hellenic community of Milwaukee. A final and special thank you is extended to the home hospice care nurses for their empathetic support and care for Spiro and assisting Eleni in her unwavering commitment to providing Spiro all the best over the past months.

Visitation will take place on Friday, December 29, 2023 from 10 am – 12 pm at ST. CONSTANTINE & HELEN GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH (2160 N Wauwatosa Ave, Wauwatosa) with the service following at 12 pm. Burial at HIGHLAND MEMORIAL PARK to follow.