1941 – 2013

DURHAM — John “Zoubas” Athanasiou passed on Thursday, Aug. 29, at the age of 72.

John was born March 1, 1941, in Athens, Greece. As a young man, John served in the Greek Navy, before coming to this country in 1960. He became a legalized United States citizen in 1970.

He was an entrepreneur and started his own business painting houses until 1970, when he opened his first pizzeria in Roslindale, Mass. He continued to challenge himself and owned many pizzerias in various areas of Massachusetts, until coming to New Auburn in 1978, opening the Boston House of Pizza and retiring in 1994.

John was widely known in the Twin Cities for his Greek-style pizza, generosity and charisma. He was well respected in the community and often offered free meals to those less fortunate.

John was an extremely talented artist, with a gift for sketching portraits. He loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them. His favorite pastimes were vacationing with his wife in Mexico, swimming, fishing and playing Cribbage and Backgammon. He often spent his Saturday nights playing poker and pool with his wife and in-laws.

His greatest joys and passions were landscaping his home and the times he spent throughout the years with his Boxers: Calypso, Electra, Daphne and surviving him, Princess Kassandra “Kassie.”

He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Theresa Gagnon Athanasiou; daughter, Violetta Bernard, her husband, Timothy. and grandchildren, Julia, Jacob and Patrick; sons, James Athanasiou and Adrien “AJ” Gosselin and fiancée, Stacy Pratts; brothers, Apostolos Athanasiou and wife, Joanna, and Christos Athanasiou and wife, Olga; and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by his parents, Dimitrios Athanasiou and Violetta Venaras Athanasiou.

The family extends their appreciation to family and friends who checked in on John and his wife the last few years, and provided assistance when needed. Our appreciation goes out to the staff at St. Mary’s oncology department, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice and Father Ted Toppses of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.