Thomas Vangelopoulos, age 84, of Velvento, Kozani, Greece, passed away peacefully February 17, 2024, in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was born June 10, 1939, in Velvento, home of the world’s greatest peaches. The youngest of seven in a small mountainside Greek village, “Maki” was cared for and doted on by his four older sisters. In 1941, the village was under German occupation, and the command post took over the family’s home, forcing the family of nine into one small room of the house. Circumstances dictated by the war and the family business, Tom started working at a young age in the Vangelopoulos family bakery attached to his childhood home. In his teens, he worked the family hustle doing various jobs to earn some respect from his older siblings.

Military service came calling, and despite not having a driver’s license, he drove tanks and peeled potatoes for the Greek Army for 2 years. Following his military service, he spent a few years in Aachen, Germany working jobs in machine shops and food production facilities. After sending most of his earnings back home to Greece, he boarded a ship with just a few drachmas and headed to the United States looking for better opportunities. Brother George, who was operating pizza shops in Raleigh, North Carolina, offered him a job, and who knew that it would include finding his future bride, Judie, a customer of the restaurant who had good taste (in pizza). In 1965, a month after their first date, they were married, broke and left together for adventures in Long Island, NY and Cleveland, OH, living and spending time with sisters Helen and Effie and his brothers-in-law who cared for him as their own. The restaurant business continued to call to him, and the young couple settled in Northern Virginia where they stayed for the next 30 years owning/operating several different pizza restaurants that always included Greek specialties as well. He had a determination and work ethic that was unmatched, which prepared him well for the hospitality industry. Tom was known for his top-notch spanakopita and baklava and converted many “haters” to “lovers” of all things Greek with his excellent cooking. Tom and Judie had three sons who all spent some time of their own working and training in the restaurants as young kids and later as seasoned pros. In 1995, Tom and Judie relocated to Charlottesville, VA, and in partnership with their oldest son, Angelo, purchased the Ivy Inn Restaurant, a longtime standard of the local fine dining scene. Tom took on the daily bread baking and food prep because he simply could never sit still for very long. Five years later, the family opened Wild Greens, a casual restaurant that featured American fare. Tom and Judie ran day to day operations and Tom worked on Greek specialties for the menu. His weekly “Greek Night” specials were the most requested foods during their 10-year run. Tom officially retired from the restaurant business in 2010, but continued to support Angelo and daughter-in-law Farrell at the Ivy Inn baking breads and doing a great job of telling his son which dishes were good and what needed more work.

Thomas found joy in cooking, eating, and spending time with his family. He was a devout member of the Greek Orthodox Church, finding solace and community in his faith at Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, Charlottesville, VA. Having come from a family with beautiful voices, he participated in the church choir. For many years Tom baked the “prosforo”, communion bread, for Sunday services and special holidays. His “tsourekia” also known as “Greek Easter Bread” was revered by many. Tom was often the first one on the dance floor at any event and could cut a rug with the best of them.

He is survived by his wife, Judie Crosby Vangelopoulos; his sons Angelo Vangelopoulos (Farrell Vangelopoulos), Niko Vangelopoulos, and Christos Vangelopoulos; and grandson Thomas Alexander Vangelopoulos. He is also survived by his sisters Effie Kantzios and Maria Psarras. Thomas was preceded in death by his sisters Eleni Kanavas and Evgenia Panagiotidis; his brothers John Vangelopoulos and George Vangelopoulos(Vangelos); his father Evangelos Vangelopoulos, and his mother Athena Mitsioris.

For more on services and to share your condolences, visit Hill and Wood Funeral Services.