Konstatinos " Gus" Servitis

Konstatinos (Gus) Servitis, (Kostas Chiotis) 87, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. 

The funeral will be from the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home, 585 Belgrove Drive, Kearny, NJ on Saturday, April 16 at 10:00 a.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church, 818 Valley Road, Clifton, NJ at 11:00 a.m. Interment will take place on Monday morning, April 18 at 10:00 a.m. in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, NJ. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with the family at the funeral home on Friday, April 15 from 2 to 6 p.m.

Gus was born in Pireas, Greece on March 3, 1935, to Pantelis and Argyro Servitis, and grew up in Athens Greece.

Gus is survived by his loving children, Pantelis (Telly) Servitis, and Mike and Brenda Lane, as well as by his grandchildren, Cassandra (Cassie) Servitis, Killian Lane, and Tony, Kosta, and Christina Zalahas. He is also survived by his loving sister, Effie, and many nieces and nephews.  Gus was predeceased by his wife Evangelia Servitis, daughter-in-law, Kathi Servitis, and his two sisters, Maria (and her son, Cyrial) and Lemonia.

Growing up in Athens, Gus became a skilled plaster technician where he was blessed to work in many notable locations such as The Hotel Grand Brittania and Castle in Tatei of the then King and Queen of Greece. Growing up in his neighborhood, there were five friends with the name Kostas and the only way to differentiate who was who, was by the nicknames they were given, which was the birthplace of their mothers. This is how he was given the name Kostas Chiotis.

One day returning from work, he had gotten into an argument with his mother, became frustrated, and decided to visit his sister Effie and his now late brother-in-law Simeon Ogorelkoff in Jamaica, Queens, NY. On his way to NYC, he was invited by a friend to visit him in Las Vegas, Nevada. Upon arriving in Las Vegas where he met other Greek immigrants, he landed a job as a pot washer at the Dunes Hotel. While working there, he met some of Hollywood’s most elite, such as Frank Sinatra and Sophia Loren. Upon working, he was well-liked by the head chef, who took him under his wing and convinced him to go to culinary school. He attended culinary school for two years and came out as a chef and skilled butcher. Upon completing culinary school, he decided to go to Hollywood, California, to meet a friend also named Gus. Together they opened up the Gus & Gus Restaurant in Hollywood. After a few years, they agreed to part ways, and then he got a job at the Greek Village Restaurant a few blocks away from MGM Studios. One day while having lunch and eating a burger that he masterminded on his own with all different spices, a Greek gentleman walked up behind him and asked him what he made because it smelled good. Gus looked over his shoulder and was surprised to see that the gentleman was none other than Kojack himself, Telly Savalas. After meeting Telly Savalas and feeding him, Savalas would bring in his friends which happened to be his brother, Frank Sinatra, Charlton Heston, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and many more of Hollywood’s finest. They never looked at a menu and ate whatever Gus made for them. After a few years, Gus decided to visit his sister in Jamaica, Queens, and continued his culinary career. One night while at the Grecian Cave Greek Night Club, he met his wife Evangelia, whom he married and had a family with. During that time, he grand opened various diners/restaurants such as The El Greco in Sheepshead Bay, NY. He showcased his talent there and at one time was making 3,000 matzo balls a week. Gus also worked in various diners/restaurants in the NJ area where he was known by his nickname, his cleanliness, fast pace, flavor, and willingness to help anyone that needed it, but also did not take disrespect lightly and had no problem telling that person/people where to go.

Gus enjoyed going to Greek nightclubs, going to Atlantic City, especially Caesars Palace where he would shoot craps and play poker, and going to various horse racing tracks where he gambled on trotters and thoroughbred horses.

In lieu of flowers, the family will kindly accept donations to help with funeral expenses.

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