FALMOUTH – Sotirios “Steve” Sotiropoulos, of Falmouth, passed away peacefully on Sept. 12, 2021 after a lengthy illness, with family and his four-legged best friend, Ari, by his side.

Steve was a hard-working, honest, and driven man, always seeking to reach his highest potential. Steve personified the American Dream — he came to the U.S. with only a dream and he was able to achieve a great life for himself and his family.

Steve was most proud of his family and he would often share stories about his children and grandchildren. He loved to take his family on ski trips and vacations to Greece.

Steve was also very proud of his achievements in life, including his successful restaurants. Steve enjoyed spending time with family and friends, often challenging them in bowling and games of backgammon and cards. Steve also regularly visited family and friends near his hometown in Greece where the family owns a seaside home and enjoyed spending his summers there.

Born on July 22, 1944, he was raised in Chalazoni, Greece, a small village in the hills of Messinia. Steve’s parents were farmers and they faced many challenges supporting the family in post-war Greece. Steve attended the local elementary and high schools and then honorably served Greece in the military. After his military service, Steve moved to Athens and attended the police academy.

Steve served as a police officer for seven years at the Ellinikon International Airport in Athens. Despite success in his early career as a police officer, Steve decided to pursue a different path. He was convinced that his future success was in America.

In 1971 Steve moved to the Boston area where he lived with his sister, Chrysanthy, and became a bartender in a popular bar in Gloucester, Mass. It was during this time that he met Antonia, who was from a village near his own hometown in Greece and whom he would marry in 1977. While pregnant with their first son, Steve and Antonia decided that the bartending career wasn’t well suited for a family life so they looked into opening their own business.

After learning the pizza-making trade from a friend, Steve and Antonia found space for their first restaurant in a plaza in Falmouth. The plaza was owned by a Greek who was hesitant to rent the space to a family with no experience running a restaurant. Steve drove to Boston to meet with the plaza owner and convinced him to take a chance on him. The Falmouth House of Pizza opened in 1977 and, after a few difficult early years, became a stalwart family-friendly establishment in the Portland area for over 40 years before closing in 2019. Steve built the restaurant with his own hands and worked very hard to earn his customers’ business. The family’s second location, Antonia’s Pizzeria in Freeport opened in 2007 and is still successfully operating today.

Steve was active in the Greek community in Portland and for many years he served as an Officer and Treasurer at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.

Steve is survived by his wife of nearly 48 years, Antonia; son, George and his wife Miekal of Falmouth, son, Lee and his wife Megan of Falmouth, son, Nicholas of Falmouth; his grandchildren whom he adored, Lilah, Luca, Thano, Elina, Harper, Theo, Max, and Niko; his brother, Costas of Australia, sister, Chrysanthy of Peabody, Mass., brother, Angelo of Gorham; brother, Charalabos of Greece; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his father, George and mother, Fotine.

Family and friends are invited to attend a time of visitation on Monday, Sept. 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Jones, Rich and Barnes Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland. The Trisagion Prayer Service will take place at 7 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 21 at 10 a.m., at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, followed by the committal service at Evergreen Cemetery in Portland.

Please visit http://www.jonesrichandbarnes.com to view Steve’s tribute page and to sign his online guestbook.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Steve’s memory to the

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church,

133 Pleasant St.,

Portland ME 04101.

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