Steve G Triantafyllou

Steve Triantafyllou was born in Stromi-Fokida Greece on March 4th, 1931. He died peacefully in his Florida home one day before his 92nd birthday on March 3, 2023. Steve was preceded in death by his parents George Triantafyllou and Eleni Mastorokostopoulos and siblings Gus Triantafyllou 2017 and Fotini Triantafyllou 2005. He is survived by his daughters Helen Triantafyllou-Rahimzadeh (son-in-law Farzan Rahimzadeh) and Georgia S Triantafyllou; two grandchildren, Vasiliki (Vaso) Rahimzadeh (Dalton George) Houston, Texas and Stephanos Rahimzadeh Washington DC; as well as his nieces and nephews Kimberly Rogers, Stephanie Altidis, Demetra Lewis, and Jim Koutrodimos and their families, and Godson Steven Rohrer.

Steve immigrated from Greece with family in October 1951 and settled in Rittman, Ohio. Steve adjusted to life in America, working with both his father and brother at the Packaging Corp of America. He later joined the United States Air Force and was stationed in San Antonio, Texas.

Steve met his wife Vasiliki Koutrodimos in Akron, Ohio. They were married on March 1, 1959, at the Portage Country Club. They resided in Wadsworth, Ohio for 36 years where they raised their family and were active in the Annunciation Akron Greek Orthodox community. During this time, Steve worked as a welder for McDermott Corp in Barberton, Ohio and retired after Vasiliki’s passing in 1986. He met his second wife, Koula Panos from Cleveland, Ohio and two children Pete and Nitsa Panos. The couple married in 1990, and moved to New Port Richey, Florida where they participated in the parish of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in New Port Richey, Florida.

Steve was a skilled craftsman and dutifully helped his family, friends, and neighbors whenever in need. He treasured his time traveling back to Greece, his homeland, every summer. Steve found time for his hobbies. He enjoyed swimming and was an avid musician and collector of rare instruments. He was self-taught on the bouzouki, clarinet, and saxophone. He specialized in the folk music of his Roumeli region.

The story of Steve’s amazing life would not be complete without mention of how he was blessed by a vision of the Panagia in 2001 and miraculously discovered an icon of her image (Panagia Stromitissa) dated 1776. He discovered two additional icons of St John the Baptist and Jesus Christ in 2002. This event completely transformed his life. He devoted his life to commemorating this beautiful event by building a church at the site where the icon was found and to celebrating the feast day each year on July 3rd. In 2021, the Panagia Stromitissa church was granted monastic status by the local diocese. Anytime he would meet a new person or visitor, he would strike up a conversation and would share the story and gave them an icon he always had in his pocket.

Friends and Family invite you to attend viewing hours at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd., Fairlawn, OH 44333 on THURSDAY, March 9th from 5:30-7:30 pm. Funeral services will be held Friday, March 10 at 11:00 am at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 129 S. Union St., Akron, OH 44304. Makaria to follow in the church hall. Burial Services afterwards at Rittman Cemetery.

In remembrance of Steve’s life, the family would respectfully ask that those wishing to do so offer a contribution in his name for the Panagia Stromitissa.

This can be done by mailing a check to:
Georgia Triantafyllou
849 Berkley Court South
Palm Harbor Florida 34684
Tel 925-864-5765
Memo for Panagia Stromitissa

Services in care of The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory, Fairlawn Chapel, 85 N Miller Road  Akron, OH  44333.