Efthimios Liapis

Efthimios (Thimios) Liapis, loving husband and father, passed away suddenly in his home on April 30th, 2020. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Maria, his two daughters, Katerina and Eleni, his mother, all of his brothers, and many aunts, uncles and cousins. His life was dedicated to supporting his family in every way.
Thimios was born on April 16th, 1948, in a small village in Greece where he lived with his parents, Katerina and Ilias, and his four brothers, Nikos, Vangelis, Dimitrios and Kostas. Raised in poverty, he eventually made his way to Delphi where he went to school. After serving in the army, he opened a photography business with one of his brothers. In 1973, he met his future wife, an American woman whose many travels brought her Delphi. This was a love story like no other as he and Maria did not speak each other's native languages. This barrier did not stop them from moving forward - they managed to maintain a connection with the help of others translating for them while they were separated. Upon Maria's return to Greece in March of 1975, they decided to get married, against all odds. Maria returned to the states the day after their wedding, then waited for three months for Thimios to make his way to New York to start their life together.
Thimios did whatever he could to support his wife, securing his first job as an ice cream man in Mt. Vernon. To his credit, he managed to learn how to speak, read and write English and became an American citizen. He eventually went on to co-own a diner in the Bronx and later completed an apprenticeship in baking, which allowed him to provide for his family. In September 1978, Thimios and Maria were overjoyed to welcome their first daughter, Katerina (Tina) followed by their second daughter, Eleni (Leni), in July 1982. Their family wasn't complete until many years later until they were joined by their dog Isabella in March 2007. Other than his wife, Bella was the love of his life. Thimios' love for all of his girls cannot be expressed in words.
"Tommy" as many of his co-workers affectionately called him, worked for over 35 years as a baker at the Raceway Diner and also worked for many other establishments including The Red Fox Diner, The Monroe Diner, The Stateline Diner, The Mirage Diner and more recently, The Stamford Diner. He was known for making the most delicious baked goods – especially his cheesecake, which was enjoyed by hundreds of customers every Christmas. His work ethic was unparalleled, typically working long hours, six days a week – without complaint. Thimios was determined to give his daughters the life he never had, affording them the opportunity to go to dancing school for many years and to pursue higher education anywhere they chose. His generosity towards his family and friends was beyond measure.
Along his path, Thimios developed many strong friendships that will outlive his presence on this earth. Many people were blessed to be able to call him a friend. Although he devoted much of his life to his work, Thimios was always up for a celebration. His personality could be described as joyful – he always greeted people with a warm smile. He was especially loved by his daughters' friends who were charmed by his accent and his broken English. His passion for politics was evident, and he always invited conversation about world affairs. While he did not have the chance to complete high school or attend college, he was an extremely intelligent man.
Thimios enjoyed watching and refereeing soccer in his younger days and also loved to get together with friends to play cards, have coffee and talk. His pride in his culture and his Greek Orthodox faith was instilled in his daughters who attended the local Greek school and Sunday school. Over the years, the family enjoyed church functions where they shared wonderful food and company, dancing together in traditional Greek fashion. Most importantly, Thimios adored his family. Every goal in his life was pursued with their well-being in mind. While he was proud to create a better life in America, his heart forever remained in Greece.
The Liapis family would like to extend sincere thanks from the bottom of their hearts to all of their relatives and friends near and far during this especially difficult time when people are prohibited from gathering. There will be a memorial celebration planned in the near future when everyone can come together to share memories of him. Thimios will be cremated and part of his remains will be sent to Greece where his ashes will be scattered. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox church in New Rochelle, NY, to help families in need.