Spyridon “Spyro” Economou, 52, of Worcester suffered a massive heart attack Monday morning, September 2nd in his home and died shortly afterward at UMass Memorial Medical Center where he was taken by ambulance.
Spyro graduated from Doherty High School and attended Assumption College before taking over the House of Pizza restaurant his father Prokopios (Paul) founded in Westborough in 1970. Spyro owned and operated the business with his brother Fred for more than 27 years, expanding it ten years ago into a restaurant and bar called Westborough House at 36 East Main Street. Spyro's gentle disposition and joyful humor endeared him to all his customers, whom he treated as family.
Spyro, whose father died in 1993 and whose mother Glykeria passed away last October, leaves his brother, Fred and his wife, Elena, and their children, Paul and Lilly; two uncles, Nicholas Gage and his wife, Joan and Christos Economou and his wife, Maria, and five aunts, Alexandra Stratis and her husband, Angelo, Olga Bartzokis, Fotini Haithis, Ourania Efstathiou and her husband, Fotios, all of Worcester, and Polyxene Varsami of Ioannina, Greece. He is also mourned by more than a dozen cousins who grew up in the same neighborhood and were like brothers and sisters to him. They include Spiro, Christos, Thomas and Elenie Bartzokis, Nick and Andrew Stratis, Daisy and Christos Bottos, Sotiris, Kiki and George Efstathiou, John and Calliope Economou, and Christos, Eleni, and Marina Gage.
Spyro was a fanatic fan of all the Boston sports teams and doted on his nephew, Paul and niece, Lilly, whom he loved like his own children and for whom he emptied store shelves on their birthdays and at Christmas. With his brother, Fred he was an unfailing supporter of the Town of Westborough, donating time, contributions and services to a variety of local charities, and he was a member of St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral. He will be greatly missed by his extended family, his regular customers and a vast circle of friends.
His funeral is Thursday, September 5th from O’CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Avenue with a service at 11:00 AM in St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 102 Russell Street. Burial will follow in Hope Cemetery. Calling hours are Wednesday, September 4th from 5:00 until 8:00 PM in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 102 Russell Street, Worcester, MA 01609. For directions and online guestbook please visit oconnorbrothers.com