Of the Town of Wheatfield, NY,  passed away peacefully on Monday, December 25, 2017, in Niagara Hospice House, Lockport, NY.   He was born in Sofiko Evros, Greece on February 11, 1955, a son of the late Apostolis and Parthena [Nikolaidou] Tsirtsakis.

Sam left home when he was thirteen to see what life had to offer outside of his village.   He found work at a restaurant in Athens where he first found his love for working in the food industry.   At only fifteen, Sam joined the Merchant Marines and was able to travel all over the world, eventually coming to America.   He moved to New York City where he worked for various restaurants before joining his brother Demitri at his restaurant in Silver Creek. In 1987 Sam opened his first restaurant, the Olympia Family Restaurant in Gowanda and in 1998 opened his second location on Niagara Falls Blvd. in the Town of Wheatfield.

Sam was incredibly proud of his Greek Heritage and will always be remembered for the love and kindness he extended to everyone he came in contact with.   Sam had a love for bowling, always making sure everyone knew how competitive he was.

Sam’s memory lives on through his loving wife Sarah N. [White] Tsirtsakis, his six children; Apostolis, Evangelos, Nikolaos, Alexandros, Kaliope and Kalomira Tsirtsakis, a grandson Darren Tsirtsakis, five brothers; Panagiotis, Vasilis, Giorgos, Christo and Demitri Tsirtsakis and was the son-in-law of Sally & Mike Dorigo and Dennis White. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

His family will be present Tuesday and Wednesday from 2-4 & 6-9 PM at the RHONEY FUNERAL HOME, 5893 Hoover Road, SANBORN, NY.    Funeral Services will be held on Thursday at 10:00 AM at Hellenic Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, 146 West Utica Street, Buffalo, NY.

Flowers are gratefully declined. Memorials may be made in his name to Niagara Hospice, 4675 Sunset Drive, Lockport, NY 14094.

Interment in Elmlawn Cemetery, Town of Tonawanda, NY.
 

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