Kostas G. Karageorgos

Konstantinos (Kostas) Karageorgos died on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. He was 95-years-old. Born in Ano Hora Greece, Kostas immigrated to Detroit in 1966, at the age of 37, joining his brothers Nikos and Yannos. He settled in Greektown, where he worked in restaurants and established what would become lifelong friendships, all while taking full advantage of his Hellenic surroundings. A late-in-life husband and father, Kostas married and had children in his fifties. This unexpected transition was his greatest blessing. Despite living in the U.S. for the majority of his life, Kostas was thoroughly Greek. He spent much of his free time in a handful of kafenios in Greektown and metro-Detroit. There he would talk politics, literature, European history, and philosophy, finding creative ways to needle those with opposing political views while managing to never offend anyone. While he was most comfortable thinking and speaking in his mother tongue, he learned enough English to establish and maintain warm connections, and attempted to strengthen those connections by periodically immersing unsuspecting English-speakers in the Greek language, reassuring them that despite their confusion, ...[more]

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y did understand. As ethical and principled as he was social and genial, Kostas's life was defined by his commitments to others: his family, certainly, but also his close friends, many of whom were from his region in Greece. Because he prioritized relationships above all else, and because he readily gave his time and energy to those in his orbit, he never wanted for support. Kostas knew he was well loved. Kostas spent the last ten years of his life delighting in his three grandchildren, Vasiliki (10), Amalia (8), and Konstantinos (2.5), who bears his name. His persona as a grandparent was an amplified version of how he was as a father: endlessly patient, mirthful, indulgent, and loving. Those in his presence, including children, knew that they had his full attention. This is perhaps the greatest gift anyone can give another person. Kostas is survived by his three children, Georgios (Athena) Karageorgos, Petros (Jennifer) Karageorgos, and Konstantina Karageorgos, his brother Nikos (Lena), and his sisters Eleni and Margarita. His family and friends will celebrate his incredible life even as they mourn his death. May his memory be eternal. He will lie instate on Monday June 5 from 9 am until the time of the funeral service at 10 am at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 21800 Marter Road, St. Clair Shores. Interment will be at Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township.