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Elias S. Sarris |
Elias S. Sarris
Elias
Steve "Louie" Sarris, 42, of
He
was born on Aug. 18, 1966, in
Louie
lived a life full of passion. He was absolutely devoted
to his parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. His
friends knew him to be a friend for life. He was deeply proud of his Greek
heritage and in particular, felt an abiding love for his parents'
He
was a devout parishioner of his childhood church, Prophet Elias, and served
honorably on the church board for many years. Louie had a keen ear and was able
to pick up almost any musical instrument and play it with ease. He will be deeply missed by family and friends alike who will
remember his humor and funny stories, his love of Greek music and dancing and
his warmth and generosity.
Surviving
are his parents, Steve and Nina Sarris; his siblings, Anna and Peter Kachevas, Michael and Chrysso
Sarris and Despina and Jim Matheos;
as well as his nephews and nieces who will remember him always as their
favorite "Theo Louie."
He served as Chios
Societies Asst. Supreme Treasurer from 2006-2008. We all feel extreme sadness for our fallen Chian brother. Our
condolences go out to his family from the Supreme Lodge, Governors, Directors, and
representatives of the member societies.
In
his memory, donations may be made to:
Chios
Societies of
(The Chian
Society of California has initiated and pledged the first funds to award our
students scholarships in Louie’s memory)
-or-
Elias
"Louie" Steve Sarris Memorial Fund
c/o Dimitrios & Despina Matheos
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| Louie with us at the 52nd National Chian Convention, San Francisco Bay Area | ||||
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Saturday,
February 7, 2009 Sarris
was killed last week in a |
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The late Elias "Louie"
Sarris is shown dancing with his niece, Zoe Marika, of |
Today,
people from around the country and across an ocean will gather to mourn the
loss of a
Elias
"Louie" Sarris, 42, was killed last week in
Sarris'
death shocked his family, spread out between
"Even
though (the family was) far apart, we have been together, just through silly
times, through holidays. And Louie was such a great connection," Debbie Matheos said. "He was the glue that kept everyone in
touch and let everyone know what was going on."
Sarris
was born and raised in
College
and worked at Kendall Hunt Publishing for a number of years. Most recently,
Sarris worked as a regional sales representative for California-based
Scientific Learning.
Debbie
Matheos said her brother returned to their parents'
village on the Greek island
Sarris
was active in his church, Saint Elias the Prophet Greek Orthodox Church. Ed Dissell, who has served with Sarris on the parish council,
said Sarris helped keep the small church alive. Though the Greek community in
"He
cared very much about the church and its survival," Dissell
said.
Sarris
volunteered as much time as possible planning the church's annual Greek
Festival. It was a fitting role for a man who had a gift for picking up
instruments and playing them by ear, Debbie Matheos
said. He played the bouzouki, a tear-shaped string instrument, the clarinet and
piano, among others. Perhaps Sarris was best known for
his vitality and energy when he danced, Debbie Matheos
said.
"He
danced from his heart," she said. "When you Greek dance, there's
something emotional about it."
Sarris
captivated anyone who watched him dance, and he pulled others along with him.
Debbie Matheos said her brother especially loved to
teach his nieces and nephews how to dance.
He
taught his eight nieces and nephews about their heritage and
how to speak Greek, Sarris' brother, Mike, said. Everyone called him
"Theo Louie," or "Uncle Louie."
"He
would wrestle with them and chase them around the house," Mike Sarris
said.
Besides
his dancing, Sarris was known for his self-deprecating
humor and inside jokes.
"He'd
always try to diffuse tense situations with humor," Mike Sarris said.
Mike
Sarris and Debbie Matheos said they estimate around
150 people will come from out of town to attend their brother's funeral this
morning. Along with local attendees, they hope their small Greek church can
accommodate the crowd, but they know their brother could have made it work.
Jim
Matheos said his brother-in-law never lost touch with
what was important in life: friends and laughter. "He was like a
40-year-old child. He never stopped living," Jim Matheos
said. "Some of us grow up and we forget to live. Louie didn't."
BSO seeks driver in fatal hit-run
in Wilton
By Juan Ortega
5:50 PM CST, February 3, 2009
A driver fatally struck an
A tan 2008 Hyundai Sonata fatally struck Elias S. Sarris, 42, late Saturday
night as he crossed in the westbound lane of
The Sonata's driver, whose identity wasn't released by officials Tuesday, then
tried to make a U-turn but went out of control, struck a parked car and stopped
against a chain-link fence.
The driver then left the Sonata and ran off.
Sheriff's investigators recovered the vehicle and are collecting evidence.
Sarris was taken to
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.
Copyright © 2009, South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Hit-and-run in Wilton
By Juan Ortega and Michael Turnbell
9:14 AM EST, February 4, 2009
As authorities on Tuesday searched for a hit-and-run driver who left a
pedestrian to die, avid pedestrians complained
Elias S. Sarris, 42, of
The impact hurled him about "20 to 25 feet" in the air before he fell
on the pavement, said Constantine Kafantaris, Sarris'
cousin who witnessed the crash. The driver soon after lost
control of his tan 2008 Hyundai Sonata, which struck a parked car. He
abandoned his car and ran away. Authorities know the identity of the car owner,
but haven't determined who was driving the car Saturday.
"I'm very surprised he didn't stop to help," said Kafantaris,
42, of
Paramedics took Sarris to
He was fatally struck the same day the state Department of Transportation
reduced the speed limit on
"It's tragic," said six-year resident Michael Juhlin,
38. "Within hours of them changing the speed limit, there's a body in the
road."
Planned improvements for
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Sheriff's
Detective Robert Miller at 954-321-4840 or anonymously report the tip to BSO
through Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS or online at
www.browardcrimestoppers.org.
Juan Ortega can be reached at jcortega@sunsentinel.com
or 954-356-4701.
Copyright © 2009, South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com