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September 13, 2017
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, September 17, 2017 from 2-6 PM. Tony will then be returning to Kefalonia, Greece for burial near his childhood home.
Antonios “Tony” Toulios, age 70 of Pompton Lakes, passed on Wednesday, September 13, 2017 after a brief, but valiant battle with cancer. Tony was a resident of Pompton Lakes for nearly fifty years, and had been a successful owner/operator of the Pompton Lakes Diner as well as a talented carpenter.
Tony was born and raised on the island of Kefalonia, Greece. At very early age, he worked in agriculture and construction. By the age of fifteen, he joined the Merchant Marines and found himself sailing around the world, visiting places like Russia, China, Japan, Panama and all points in between. During a stop in Long Beach, CA, he ‘jumped ship’ to start a life in the United States. That didn’t last long, as the young boy was caught and deported back to Greece! This caused him to be ‘black listed’ among the Merchant Marine community, but with his charm, he managed to get back onboard another ship and began sailing again. Not long after that, he landed in Philadelphia, PA and ‘jumped ship’ once again – but this time he managed not to get caught! He established himself well in the United States and within a few years of hard work, he had saved up enough money to purchase the Pompton Lakes Diner in 1972. He ran the diner for twelve years and established himself as a wonderful cook, despite having no formal training of the sort! He was truly an example of having lived the “American Dream” and along with the help of his family, they built a successful business and a great reputation. He sold the diner in 1984 and started his own carpentry business up until he had a golden opportunity to go back to the diner in 1997. He sold the diner once again and retired in 2003. Since then, he and his wife have enjoyed dividing their time between Pompton Lakes and visits back to Kefalonia, Greece.
Tony met his wife Anna (nee Lourdas) at her home in the Bronx, after being introduced by a mutual friend. Coincidentally, they had both been raised on the island of Kefalonia and their childhood homes were less than an hour apart. They were married on January 30, 1972 and enjoyed a honeymoon at a resort in the Poconos. They settled to a home in Old Tappan, NJ before moving to Pompton Lakes that same year. Their marriage was an example of two complimentary personalities; Tony was always joking around and laughing, being funny and looking for his next prank. Although Anna might say he was a bit headstrong and a procrastinator, she kept him well grounded and they loved each other. Tony was a very hospitable man and he treated everyone like they were family. He was a loving, caring, genuine, honest man, and everyone around him knew it, everyone around him felt it, especially Anna and his two children. He will be dearly missed.
Tony is survived by his devoted wife of forty-five years; Anna, by his two children; daughter Sofia Toulios and her husband Georges Saleh, and his son; Panos Toulios and Nicole Patlias with granddaughter; Demitra Toulios, all of Pompton Lakes, NJ. Tony was one of six children in his family and he is survived by four siblings; Spiros Toulios and his wife Eleni of California, Joanna Matiatos and her husband Athanasios of Kefalonia, Kostas Toulios and his wife Janet of Marlboro, NJ, and Dennis Toulios and his wife Shirley of Upstate, New York. He was predeceased by his loving big brother; Gerasimos Toulios of Middletown, NY in 2015.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, September 17, 2017 from 2-6 PM. Tony will then be returning to Kefalonia, Greece for burial near his childhood home.
September 13, 2017
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, September 17, 2017 from 2-6 PM. Tony will then be returning to Kefalonia, Greece for burial near his childhood home.
Antonios “Tony” Toulios, age 70 of Pompton Lakes, passed on Wednesday, September 13, 2017 after a brief, but valiant battle with cancer. Tony was a resident of Pompton Lakes for nearly fifty years, and had been a successful owner/operator of the Pompton Lakes Diner as well as a talented carpenter.
Tony was born and raised on the island of Kefalonia, Greece. At very early age, he worked in agriculture and construction. By the age of fifteen, he joined the Merchant Marines and found himself sailing around the world, visiting places like Russia, China, Japan, Panama and all points in between. During a stop in Long Beach, CA, he ‘jumped ship’ to start a life in the United States. That didn’t last long, as the young boy was caught and deported back to Greece! This caused him to be ‘black listed’ among the Merchant Marine community, but with his charm, he managed to get back onboard another ship and began sailing again. Not long after that, he landed in Philadelphia, PA and ‘jumped ship’ once again – but this time he managed not to get caught! He established himself well in the United States and within a few years of hard work, he had saved up enough money to purchase the Pompton Lakes Diner in 1972. He ran the diner for twelve years and established himself as a wonderful cook, despite having no formal training of the sort! He was truly an example of having lived the “American Dream” and along with the help of his family, they built a successful business and a great reputation. He sold the diner in 1984 and started his own carpentry business up until he had a golden opportunity to go back to the diner in 1997. He sold the diner once again and retired in 2003. Since then, he and his wife have enjoyed dividing their time between Pompton Lakes and visits back to Kefalonia, Greece.
Tony met his wife Anna (nee Lourdas) at her home in the Bronx, after being introduced by a mutual friend. Coincidentally, they had both been raised on the island of Kefalonia and their childhood homes were less than an hour apart. They were married on January 30, 1972 and enjoyed a honeymoon at a resort in the Poconos. They settled to a home in Old Tappan, NJ before moving to Pompton Lakes that same year. Their marriage was an example of two complimentary personalities; Tony was always joking around and laughing, being funny and looking for his next prank. Although Anna might say he was a bit headstrong and a procrastinator, she kept him well grounded and they loved each other. Tony was a very hospitable man and he treated everyone like they were family. He was a loving, caring, genuine, honest man, and everyone around him knew it, everyone around him felt it, especially Anna and his two children. He will be dearly missed.
Tony is survived by his devoted wife of forty-five years; Anna, by his two children; daughter Sofia Toulios and her husband Georges Saleh, and his son; Panos Toulios and Nicole Patlias with granddaughter; Demitra Toulios, all of Pompton Lakes, NJ. Tony was one of six children in his family and he is survived by four siblings; Spiros Toulios and his wife Eleni of California, Joanna Matiatos and her husband Athanasios of Kefalonia, Kostas Toulios and his wife Janet of Marlboro, NJ, and Dennis Toulios and his wife Shirley of Upstate, New York. He was predeceased by his loving big brother; Gerasimos Toulios of Middletown, NY in 2015.
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