Gus E. Matthews

January 1, 1929 - May 14, 2023

Resident of Cupertino

It is with sadness that we share that Gus Matthews (Costas Mattheakis), 94, passed away peacefully on May 14, 2023, at his home. Gus was born on New Year’s Day 1929 in Athens, Greece to his proud parents Eleftherios and Eleni (Eugenis) Mattheakis. An only child, he grew up in Piraeus near the harbor of Pasalimani. His adolescence was punctuated by the German invasion and occupation of Greece in 1941, which deeply affected his outlook on survival and history of WWII. After the war, Greece entered a period of civil war, and Gus left the country in 1949 as a member of the Merchant Marines. He traveled the world before ending up in San Francisco where he met his future wife, Irene Pavlos. They married in 1951 and celebrated 72 years together. In 1955, he joined the US Army Map Service of the Corps of Engineers and trained in Photolithography with the premier map-making agency of the US Department of Defense. This training served him well as he spent his remaining career in the printing industry of San Francisco as owner of the successful Robert Mattoch Printing Co., before retiring in 1994.

Throughout his life, Gus loved people and reading about and discussing politics and history. He was a modern-day Zorba and could be heard shouting “Opa” at the many parties he and Irene held for friends and family. Together, they traveled the world visiting Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa. A lifetime member of AHEPA and the Pancretan Association of America, Gus was proud of his Greek and Cretan heritage. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandparent, uncle, and friend. The family wishes to thank caregivers Yvonne Dacanay and Myrna Barnes for their loving, dedicated, and attentive care. Gus is survived by his wife Irene, son Larry (Marcia), grandchildren Eleni and Michael, and numerous nephews, nieces, and friends.

A Trisagion service will be held on Sunday, May 21, 2023, at 7:00pm at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 1260 Davis Street, San Jose, Ca 95126. The Funeral service will be held on Monday, May 22, 2023 at 9:30am at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. The Interment will follow the funeral at Madronia Cemetery, 14766 Oak St., Saratoga, CA 95070. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church (mailing address: St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 986 Chapman Street, San Jose, Ca 95126 or online at https://saintnicholas.ccbchurch.com/ goto/forms/34/responses/ new ). May his memory be eternal.