Chris "Christos" Broussinos was born in Patras, Greece on July 2, 1930. He was the third of 4 children born to Panayiotis and Katerina Broussinos.  He joined two older sisters, Mary and Ellen, and 2 years later his brother Nikolaos arrived. They unfortunately had little time to get to know their mother, who died when Chris was about 5 years old.  Later, their father remarried and his stepmother, Maria, raised all 4 kids.  Throughout his life, dad would often refer to his stepmother's goodness and selflessness.

He grew up in some difficult times, with war in Europe looming and then breaking out, first with the ill-fated Italian invasion in 1939 and then with the German invasion.  He was a young teen by the time WW2 was raging, so he saw the ravages of war in his hometown – something he never forgot.  He would tell us about going days with nothing to eat but a few roasted pumpkin seeds.

After WW2, as the great powers divided Europe and Greece was thrust into a destructive civil war, he began to think about possible opportunities overseas.

He wanted to be part of the newly built Greek air force, which was supplied with some rickety surplus British planes, but airsickness would preclude his dreams of being a pilot, so he joined the army.  He built many deep, lifelong friendships with his army buddies that he carried with him for the rest of his life.  Well into his late 80s and 90s, he spoke with great pride about his time as an army officer.

He met our mother, Angie (Koula), when his cousin introduced them at a gathering in her home.  Our mom was 17, and he said he knew right then he would marry her. A couple years later, in 1956, her parents decided to move to California at the invitation of an aunt who lived in the Central Valley, and they later settled in Pasadena.

Mom and Dad kept in touch through frequent letters, and in 1960 they were married in Patras. Mom had planned ahead, saving her money, and had bought a house in Pasadena.  She said she picked the house because it had a huge yard that her kids would be able to play in.  Our mom & dad lived in that house for over 60 years.  Their kids, Peter and Maria, grew up in a house where only Greek was spoken, was loud, with constant laughter, full of love, and usually included a menagerie of all kinds of pets – fish, mice, hamsters, turtles, parakeets, rats, a beagle named Scooter, and always cats. They loved their cats.

Chris and his partner Demetrios "Mimi" Perris opened Famous Burger in Lynwood and ran it for several years, working very long days.  Although it was successful, Chris decided he wanted a job that let him spend more time with family, so they sold the restaurant and he took a job with Sears Roebuck, where he worked for many years.  He sold roofing, fences, sheds, and all varieties of building materials. He carried an old wooden extension ladder in our 1965 Dodge Dart station wagon and would use it to climb up on the rooftops of homes (in his suit and dress shoes) to measure for a replacement roof.  His colleagues would often comment that he seemed to be able to sell just about anything to anyone...

Throughout their lives our parents were loyal members of Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church and community, and much of our upbringing revolved around all the usual Greek Church / Community activities. They made many friends there.  A favorite event every year was gathering the families at Wilderness Park for Easter and roasting a whole lamb in the fire pit, where the kids all took turns rotating the spit.  The first time we gathered it raised eyebrows with the park rangers, but dad and his friends invited the rangers to join us and to try some of the roast lamb; they concluded it was quite tasty and decided to allow it.

Chris loved to hunt and fish, usually with his buddies - Aleko, Bob, Manoli, Yianni, Thrasivoulo, Vangeli, Eckard, et. al.  Day trips fishing for bonito and perch from the piers, trout fishing at various lakes, and rabbit & quail hunting trips to the Mojave Desert were common. Our mom would cook whatever bounty we brought home.  She made some incredible meals with those fish, rabbits, dove and quail.

The family would go on frequent outings with friends on weekends and to various vacation spots – San Diego and Morro Bay were favorites, with a few long summer trips to Greece mixed in as well. Later, in retirement, they bought a house in Palm Desert that was their second home, enjoying the pool and multiple activities there, and having the kids & grandkids over whenever possible.

Our dad's great joy later in life were his grandkids – Tara, Dean and Nick.  He had special names for all of them and had boundless enthusiasm whenever they were with him.  Pappou enjoyed boasting (occasionally to our mom's embarrassment) to friends and strangers alike about his grandkids and their achievements.

He lived a good and honorable life. 'Μιά ζωή τίμια.'  He knew he was lucky to have married our mom, who proved to be his perfect soulmate.  He enjoyed seeing their kids grow and thrive with their guidance, and he lived the American Dream.  It is hard to ask for much more than that.  He was a real force of nature – dynamic in all senses of the word.  It's truly hard to believe he's gone.  He is greatly missed.

Funeral service was held at 11am on Thursday, July 27, 2023 at Saint Anthony Church. Interment followed at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California.

Arrangements under the direction of Chapman Funeral Homes - Mary Harmon, owner. Toll free (855) 628-0447.

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Obituary notice for Chapman Funeral Homes. Please visit www.chapmanfunerals.com .

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