Alexios Theodoros Konstantinopoulos

Alexi Konstantinopoulos, 97, passed away surrounded by family in the comfort of his own home on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, after a brief illness. He was born in March 1929 to Theodoros and Ekaterina (Soulimiotis) Konstantinopoulos in Paraloggi, Greece, a remote village in the Gortynia region of Arcadia. He always talked glowingly of his childhood despite growing up in challenging conditions during WWII and the Greek Civil War in a village without electricity, running water, or a road accessible by car, as these all trickled in during 1970s and 1980s. After serving in the Greek army, he travelled to America in 1956 aboard the S.S. Olympia. He was able to start a new life in Akron, Ohio. Akron felt immediately like home, as his father, Theodoros, had arrived in 1911 and spent 10 years in Akron working for Goodyear Tire before returning to Greece to get married. He was able to come through the sponsorship of his uncle Minas Konstantinopoulos, who had remained in Akron and gave him his first job in his diner. Alexi travelled from NY by train to Hudson, Ohio where he was met by his cousins Dr. Lou Konstan and Mary Pavlantos. He arrived with his cousin, Niki Konstantinopoulos Vasilatos, who travelled with him from Paraloggi, and remained in Akron after getting married.

Alexi was a hard worker and intelligent. He was proud of his 30 years working for Girves Brown Derby restaurants. He worked his way up from dishwasher, to cook, to meat cutter, to become the Produce and Poultry Buyer for the 40 restaurants in the Midwest. He was known as Alex the Greek at the Northeast Ohio Food terminal, where he purchased most of the product, He even spent 3 years as the manager of their Hudson Brown Derby restaurant. After the closure of the commissary, he started Alex & Sons Produce, which has been in business for almost 30 years and is currently run by his son Minas.

The greatest benefit from his time at Brown Derby was the result of a favor for the founder’s mother, Kalliope. Since he was going to Greece to see his family, he agreed to drop off a package for her family in Piraeus. He would end up meeting Maria Sakkas, who would become the love of his life. They were married in 1965. She would return with him to Akron, where they raised 3 wonderful sons. Over the course of their 55 years of marriage, every activity revolved around their family, the Greek Orthodox Church and their Greek culture. Their family expanded to include 2 daughters-in-law and 5 grandchildren. After retiring in 1996, Alexi and Maria spent almost every summer in Greece. They loved most the summers when their children and grandchildren would visit.

After Maria’s passing in 2021, Alexi was devastated. He remained healthy, spending time with his family, working in the yard, continuing to travel to Greece in the summers, and spending time with his ‘best friend’ Benito, a little white dog whose actual name is Adonis. At 96, he was still able to travel to Greece twice and in between, at his granddaughter Sia’s wedding, danced a Zeibekiko and lead a Kalamatiano.

Alexi is survived by his loving sons, Ted (Faye), Pantelis (Elene), and Minas; grandchildren, Anastasia (Emily), Alexi, Niko, Mariana, and Alexia, all in Copley and Columbus. He is also survived by his closest nephew, Pantelis Georgiadis, as well as by many cousins, nephews, nieces, Koumbari and Godchildren in both the U.S. and Greece.

Alexi was fiercely proud of his Greek heritage and its history and language. He was also a proud member of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, the AHEPA and Pan-Arcadians.

The funeral liturgy will be at 10:00 AM Saturday, June 20 at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 129 South Union Street, Akron with Fr. Anastasis Phyrillas officiating. Alexi will be laid to rest next to his beloved Maria at Mount Peace Cemetery, Akron. Friends may call at The Billow Funeral Homes FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 North Miller Road from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Friday. A trisagion service will be said at 6:30 PM.

Memorials may be made to either the Fr. Bartz Camp Scholarship or one of the College scholarships at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church.

Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel

330-867-4141