CONSTANTINE (GUS) DANAKAS

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CONSTANTINE (GUS) DANAKAS November 21, 1929 August 6, 2008 Peacefully, surrounded by his family, Constantine Gus Danakas passed away August 6, 2008 at Riverview Health Centre, at the age of 78, 52 years to the day after he left his home town of Molaoi, Lakonia, Greece as a young man of 26 to immigrate to Canada for a brighter future. Through hard work and incredible optimism, Gus did indeed build a bright life for himself and his family. He leaves behind his loving wife of 50 years Maria; his sons Peter and John; Peter's wife Fatima and their children Maria and Costa; John's son Costa; his sister Helen King of Vancouver; as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews across Canada and the United States and in Greece. Gus -- or Costa, as he is known to his Greek friends -- was born in Molaoi on November 21, 1929. A dutiful son, he tended to the family's olive, fig and almond trees, all of which he knew intimately and took great pride in pointing out to his grandchildren on visits back. He came to Winnipeg in 1956 and worked first for his godfather at Andrews' Restaurant on Marion Street, then as a bartender at the Airliner Hotel. Ever ambitious and energetic, early on he established a business offering fellow immigrants Greek foods and products at Qu'Appelle Grocery; then in 1967 he opened Dal's Drive-Inn and later Dal's Restaurant, the businesses he nurtured and operated until his retirement in 1995 and with which he is widely associated. Gus quickly established Dal's as a Transcona institution. His friendly and open personality, peerless work ethic, and love for food made Dal's one of the most successful eateries in Winnipeg. Working with wife Maria and later sons Peter and John, he introduced pizza, fried chicken and other tasty Dal's mainstays to Transcona. When they bumped into Gus, lifelong customers would tell him that they were virtually raised on Dal's food, and when many of them returned to Transcona from points far across the country, their first visit would be to Dal's to see Gus and taste again their favourite items. Gus always generously supported community activities, including hockey and softball teams and the Hi Neighbour Festival. Over the years he provided work for hundreds of individuals cooks, delivery drivers, waiters and waitresses, so many of whom, like his suppliers and other business colleagues, he kept in touch with to the very end. Gus wore an infectious smile and had a warm and generous heart; his staff loved him dearly and many viewed him as a second father. Gus would joke that Dal's was short for delicious but it could as easily have stood for one big family . He provided opportunities and served as a mentor for many in the Transcona community as well as numerous fellow Greeks. He was a tireless volunteer for Folklorama and other community events, and served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Greek Community of Winnipeg. He sponsored many family members and friends to Canada and offered advice and support to them as they made their own ways in business. In recent years, he spent much time visiting his friends at eateries across the city. Throughout his life and especially during his retirement, he traveled often to Greece. He built a summer home in the town of Akrata, where he hosted countless family and friends, presiding over lively barbecues rich with food and drink. His greatest pleasure came in gathering his children and grandchildren there. He would take them by the hand and show them the grapes that he grew and the chickens that were raised next door, and he drove them to the beach for swims. For them, he made every trip to Greece a memorable one. The family would like to express their thanks and appreciation to Gus's longtime family physician, Dr. Leonard Wozney; Dr. Chris Christodoulou for his care and support; and to the staffs of Grace and St. Boniface Hospitals, as well as Riverview Health Centre. Prayer service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on August 10, 2008 at Thomson Funeral Home at 669 Broadway. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, August 11 at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church at 2255 Grant Avenue. Interment to follow in Waverley Memorial Gardens, 1501 Waverley Street. THOMSON FUNERAL HOME 669 BROADWAY, WINNIPEG, MB R3C OX4 783-7211 Send expressions of sympathy at www.mem.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 08, 2008