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Tom Anastasios Drossos Obituary

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Tom Anastasios Drossos

Troy, MI

October 15, 1929 - October 19, 2020

Tom Anastasios Drossos Obituary

Tom Anastasios Drossos passed away on October 19, 2020 at the age of 91. He was the esteemed and loving husband of 53 years to Argyro, dedicated father to Peter Drossos, Evangeline Sophia Ovanessian (Gabriel), Christina Drossos and Phyllis Drossos (deceased), doting grandfather of Zachary, Jason and Zoe. Dear brother of Pete (Evangeline). Tom was optimistic and determined throughout his life. He never gave up in the face of obstacles, successfully beating cancer and other ailments. But in the end, a second cancer battle took its toll. He was born in Erythres, a small town in Attica, Greece and emigrated to the US in the wake of World War 2. Through hard work and focus, Tom lived the American dream, owning a series of successful and iconic Detroit restaurants, most notably the 24-hour Big Ben Steakhouse on Woodward Avenue. Tom came of age during Detroit’s economic hay days and had his brushes with well-known personalities of the day. He went to high school with Congressman John Conyers and disk jockey Casey Kasem. Patrons of his restaurants in both downtown and the new center area included Motown legends Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder. He was a regular in the coffeeshops and restaurants of Greektown and nostalgically recalled quintessential Detroit businesses like the London Chop House and the downtown Hudson’s. Tom earned a bachelors degree in chemistry from the Detroit Institute of Technology, where he was president of his graduating class and known as the Casablanca Kid given his strong resemblance to Humphrey Bogart. He instilled a love of learning and literature in his children. Tom was an avid reader of history and philosophy, especially of ancient Greece and lived his life according to these ideals. All things in moderation (pan metron ariston) he would often say. He enjoyed reading poetry and in his last days he found particular comfort in Constantine P. Cavafy’s Ithaca, which he considered a masterpiece. Tom’s Greek heritage was a big part of his identity. Near the end of his life, he reminded his children, “Never forget, I was Greek.” He was active in the promotion of Greek culture in his adopted homeland through his membership in the Greek-American philanthropy group AHEPA and the American-Hellenic Congress. He was also active in his church and in fundraising for the modern Greek studies program at the University of Michigan. He was a natural athlete, but particularly excelled at soccer. Unfortunately, soccer wasn’t such a well-developed sport in his new homeland, so Tom also travelled to Canada to play. He was an all-star defenseman and was scouted by the Glasgow Rangers but decided to stay closer to home. Tom continued to exercise until the very end of his life. Regulars at his gym would often note that Tom could out-do many people on the bench press, even as a senior citizen. Healthy mind in healthy body (nous hugieis en somati hugiei) was an ancient Greek saying that Tom lived by. In retirement, Tom spent time in New York City visiting his grandchildren, and summering in Greece where he would reunite with fellow ex-pats and revisit the places of his youth. He passed along his deep love of his homeland to his children and grandchildren. He will be fondly remembered for this legacy. Friends and family will raise a toast to his memory every time they hear the distinctive strums of his favorite bouzouki music. May his memory be eternal. Funeral Mass Thursday, October 22, 11:00a.m. at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 43816 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302. Visitation at church begins 10:00a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Tom’s memory to either St. George Greek Orthodox Church of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan or the Constantine P. Cavafy Chair of Modern Greek Studies at the University of Michigan.

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