Gus Koskinas

 Gus (Konstantinos) Koskinas, age 95, peacefully fell asleep in our Lord on Saturday, March 14, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. 

Born in 1930 in the small mountainous village of Stenoma, Greece, his childhood and teenage years were overshadowed by WWII and the Greek Civil War. In 1951, Gus immigrated to the United States through the gates of Ellis Island. What he lacked in money and knowledge of the English language, he made up for with hard work, determination, and the belief that his faith would carry him through any challenge. 

Gus began his life in America working at his uncle’s restaurant in Baltimore, where he quickly discovered his passion for cooking. He went on to work in restaurants across the country while teaching himself to speak, read, and write English. Devoted to his craft, Gus spent countless hours perfecting his recipes long after restaurant and country club kitchens had closed for the night. After marrying, he eventually settled in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he built both his home and his legacy. 

A respected restaurateur, Gus co-owned several successful Charlotte establishments, beginning with the Big Chief Drive-In and ending with Café at 6100 - the restaurant many still fondly remember and speak about to this day. Though he was happiest working in the kitchen, he always made time to greet his customers personally. He had a remarkable gift for remembering names and favorite orders, often delighting guests by sending them home with extra servings of his famous spaghetti sauce, marinated chicken, or pork chops. Outside of his work, he found great joy in gardening, transforming his backyard into an extension of his childhood home in Greece, with fig and fruit trees, vegetables, and vibrant flowers. 

After retiring at 80 years young, Gus lived with his daughter’s family, where he found his greatest joy in watching his treasured granddaughters, Eliana and Melina, grow up. Until the age of 93, he faithfully took morning and evening walks each day, in any weather, and became a neighborhood celebrity. During these walks, he would stop to visit with neighbors, warmly greeting passersby and proudly sharing stories of his granddaughters’ latest achievements. Many also enjoyed seeing him wave from the porch while reading his newest mystery novel. 

Gus leaves behind a legacy of generosity, ambition, resilience, and deep faith. He will be profoundly missed and lovingly remembered always.
 
He is survived by his daughter, Aphrodite, and her husband, Billy Davis; his granddaughters, Eliana and Melina; his sister, Aliki Triantafilopoulou; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Aphrodite; his sister, Koula Retsios; his brother, Sam Koskinas; and his sister, Eleni Georgopoulou.
 
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 600 East Boulevard, Charlotte, NC. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery. 

Memorial donations may be made in Gus’s memory to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 600 East Boulevard, Charlotte, NC, or to Panagia Prousiotissa Chapel at Elatos Park, P.O. Box 77114, Charlotte, NC 28271.       

May His Memory Be Eternal. 

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