Spiro Economou

Spiro Economou, age 82, of Wayne, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, October 15, 2020.

Born “Spyros Economou” in 1937, and raised in Newark, Spiro was the son of Constantine “Gus” and Mary (nee Nicholas) Economou, Sadly, Spiro’s father passed away when he was just nine years old. Thanks in large part to the loving care of his mother, Spiro went on to graduate from Central High School in Newark.

Through hard work and the blessing of a great personality and a genuinely warm heart, Spiro enjoyed a long career as a salesman in the health and beauty field. His dedication to his profession paid off as he eventually became a self-employed sales executive who cherished the countless friendships he made as much as the work that he did all those years. Even though he was 82 years old, Spiro never totally retired still having a client or two up to the present time.

One sunny day in November, 1954 when Spiro was just seventeen, he and his buddy decided to catch a movie at the theater in downtown Newark. After purchasing their tickets and getting their popcorn, they entered the theater and looked for good seats to watch the film. They spotted seats behind two beautiful young ladies and quickly agreed that those were the best seats in the house. Upon sitting down, Spiro wasted no time to engage in some small talk with one of the girls named Bella (Isabel) by asking her “Did the movie begin yet?” After the movie was over, the guys offered the girls a ride home in Spiro’s friend’s Studebaker. This car was perfect as it only had room for three so Bella ended up having to sit on Spiro’s lap. With such a warm, friendly and persuasive personality, Spiro was able to secure a future date with Bella and many more after that. The dating routine typically consisted of Spiro taking the bus to Bella’s house, then Bella and Spiro taking the bus to their dating destination, then taking the bus back to Bella’s home where her father was always willing to give Spiro a ride home. Needless to say, Spiro and Bella’s friendship turned to love and exactly five years to the day they first met, they exchanged wedding vows before God, family and friends on Saturday, November 7, 1959 at Bella’s church – St. Catherine of Siena R.C. Church in Cedar Grove. After a reception at the Douglas Hotel in Newark, the newlyweds honeymooned in Florida.

Life as husband and wife began in a brand new apartment in Nutley. Spiro and Bella lived there for three years and welcomed their firstborn Lisa. Upon moving to another new apartment in Bellville, they welcomed their second daughter Vicki. After three years living there, they moved in 1965 into their present home in Wayne where they welcomed two sons – Michael and Spiro T.

Spiro and Bella always looked forward to their annual trips to Aruba. They loved it there so much that they decided to buy two timeshares so they could go twice a year. They also took a vacation one time to the home of Bella’s ancestors in Italy.

Spiro’s greatest spare time enjoyment was spent playing cards with his buddies and cheering on his beloved New York Giants. Cards night with his friends was every Tuesday and there was always a wager on the games. Spiro was proud that, at the end of the night, though he didn’t always win, the worst he ever did was break even. One of Spiro and Bella’s favorite past times in Aruba was going to the casino. Spiro had a real attraction for the roulette table where his favorite numbers were 14, 2, and 35. Play them some time in memory of Spiro. Maybe you’ll be a winner. Bella simply liked to play craps and she loved to quip about how she always won until Spiro came along to give her advice. A New York Giants fan since he could remember, Spiro was a season ticket holder since 1960. Throughout the many years of sitting through those cold winter games, only to see his beloved Giants lose, there were certainly some special memories of some great wins also.

Spiro was a great guy who’s warm, friendly, outgoing, kind and generous nature was a blessing to family, friends and acquaintances alike.

Spiro was the beloved husband of Bella (nee Blasi), blessed in marriage for 60 years. He was the father of: Lisa and husband Joseph Zisa of Wayne, Vicki Economou of Hilton Head, SC, Michael Economou of Wayne, and Spiro T. and wife Lisa Marie Economou of Rumson; grandfather of: Allison, Alexis, Ava, Nicole, Joseph, Nicolas, and Christopher; brother-in-law of Michael and wife Sharon Blasi of San Diego, CA; and sister-in-law of Patricia Blasi of Cedar Grove.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in Spiro’s name are asked to consider Our Lady of the Valley Roman Catholic Church, 630 Valley Road, Wayne, NJ 07470, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105-9959 (www.stjude.org).