John D. Tsambis

John Dimitrios Tsambis, age 90, passed on Saturday April 25, 2026. Born to Dimitrios and Argiro (Aivaliotis) Tsambis on August 25, 1935 in Tsampatato, Ikaria, Greece and raised in the town of Chrisostomos, Ikaria. John was one of five siblings, Despina Trochanis+ , Zacharias Tsambis+ , Anna Katsas, and Hermione Malachias+.

As a child living in Ikaria, he lived through many hardships including the occupation of the island during WWII. While he recalled those times as difficult with the scarcity of food, he would tell us he didn’t recall them as bad times because of the genuine love he shared with his parents and siblings.

As a young man he left Ikaria to work the “vaporia” as a Merchant Marine. He traveled for three years and would often tell us, “I’ve been around the world three times”. When a foreign country would come up in conversation, he would say in Greek “I’ve been there”. He would also talk about his exploits as a young man from a small remote island exploring the world and meeting people from all over.

He came to the US in 1961 and met his beloved wife Georgia (Plutis) Tsambis who tragically predeceased him at too young of an age. They raised three children Dimitri (Dina) Tsambis, Anna Tsambis (Mark) Weisner and Zachary (Jo Ann) Tsambis. He was a loving Papou to ten grandchildren, Erik (Lauren), Yianni (Margot), Tyler, Marko, George, Georgia, John, Katerina, Georgia and Anthony and Pro-Papou (Great Grandfather) to newly born Mae Anthea Tsambis.

He worked as a painting contractor with some intermittent stints in the restaurant business with most of his working life as a self-employed painting contractor for his Olympic Painting Company. He selflessly provided for his family while teaching us the value of hard work and commitment.

He lived his life with devotion to his family, culture and faith and with great humility. He loved and was truly loved by all. May his memory be eternal.

Family and friends will be received on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 from 4-8 PM at English Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 378 Maryland Ave., Oakmont, PA, 15139, where a Trisagion Service will be held at 7 PM.  A Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 11 AM in the Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church, 12 Washington Ave., Oakmont, PA, 15139 where an additional visitation will be held prior to the service from 10-11 AM. Interment to follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Penn Hills, PA.

Memorial donations may be made to the Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church, 12 Washington Ave., Oakmont, PA or to the Pan-Icarian Foundation, P.O. Box 79037, Pittsburgh, PA 15216. (http://www.pan-icarian.com/foundation/)

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