Emmanuel Gevas

ATHENS -usinessman and Restaurateur Emmanuel Gevas, 83 Emmanuel Gevas, 83, of 37 Graham Drive, Athens, passed away peacefully at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus after an extended illness. Born in Yorkville, OH, in 1926, he was the son of Greek immigrants, Paraskos and Sophia Gevas. In 1943, at Yorkville high school, he was a starter on the schoolchr(39)s Class B state championship basketball team, the last team from eastern Ohio to win a state championship. His senior year, he and his family moved to Baltimore, Maryland where he graduated from Baltimore Community College. After graduation, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in World War II and was stationed at various bases throughout the United States. On his discharge from the Air Force, Gevas arrived in Athens, where he spent the rest of a very full life. Shortly after arriving in Athens, he opened a wine store, which provided him an introduction into the hospitality business. His marriage to Irene Karageorge in 1953 also solidified one of his most valued friendships with her brother, Gus Karageorge. The two brothers-in-law established of one of Athenschr(39) landmark restaurants, the renowned Towne House Restaurant on West Union Street. The Towne House Restaurant continually operated for more than 30 years, in spite of the untimely passing of his partner in 1977. The restaurant provided a friendly and welcoming meeting place for three generations of ATHENS -esidents and Ohio University students. Remarkably, more than 50 years after the The Towne House opened, Gevas and his wife Irene were still hearing from former customers whose memories of their time in ATHENS -ncluded times spent with the Gevas and Karageorge families. The two men invested in the early enterprise of student housing in Athens, as well as ventures in local commercial property. After closing the The Towne House Restaurant, Gevas continued to be active in a range of civic activities in Athens, including being a member of the Board of Directors of Hocking Valley Bank for over 20 years. He was a member of Town and Gown, an organization dedicated to coordinating the relationship between ATHENS -usinessmen and Ohio University administrators. He was also a member of Community Design, a group focused on improving downtown Athens, a volunteer with the Red Cross Disaster unit, the business chair of United Way and a member of the Downtown Kiwanis Club. He was also an active member of the Masonic Lodge, the ATHENS county Shrine Club, a 59-year member of the K.T Crosssen Post of the American Legion and "The Annunciation& Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Columbus. Gevas is survived by his wife of 56 years, Irene Gevas. He also leaves a daughter, Sophia Gevas (T. C. Burtt) of Norwalk, CT, sons George (Lisa) Gevas of Dublin, OH and Ernie (Kelli) Gevas of Morgantown, WV. He also is survived by a sister, Ann Gevas, of Athens, and a brother, Dr. George Gevas (Mary), of Parkersburg, WV. He also leaves five grandchildren, Jonathan, Anastasia and Alexis Gevas of Morgantown, WV, Christina and Andrea Gevas of Dublin, OH, and three great grandchildren, Sabine, Isabelle and Delaney Dempster of Danbury, CT, as well as a number of nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by sisters Aspacia Couladis and Doris Gevas of Athens. Visitation hours are from 2 to 5:30 on Sunday, July 19, at Hughes-Moquin Funeral Home in Athens. Viewing will be followed at 5:30 p.m by a Masonic Service and, at 5:45, a Greek Orthodox Thrice Holy Hymn Service. A funeral service will be conducted at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 64 University Terrece, at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 20, 2009. Interment will follow at the ATHENS -emory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to "The Annunciation" Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 555 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215, the Appalachian Community Visiting Nurses Association, 30 Herrold Ave., Athens, Ohio 45701 or Ochr(39)Bleness Memorial Hospital, 55 Hospital Drive, Athens, Ohio 45701. You may send the family a message of sympathy at www.hughesmoquinfuneralhome.com.