By Terry Poulos, Special to the Hellenic News of America
COSTAS, GRIPARIS, SANDBERG, UECKER: Legendary NBC network sportscaster Bob Costas visited Wrigley Field in late August to deliver the eulogy at the funeral of baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, who passed away earlier in the month from cancer. Sandberg was a longtime Chicago Cubs great. Costas, who early in his career spent one season as the Chicago Bulls radio play-by-play announcer, immediately after headed north to Milwaukee to deliver a second eulogy, for Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Uecker, a longtime Milwaukee Brewers announcer. Uecker is also famous for the 1989 film “Major League” starring Charlie Sheen and Tom Berenger. Uecker played a goofball announcer and his “straight man” sidekick in the TV booth was Chicago actor Skip Griparis, prominent Greek American who’s also an Illinois Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. Skip was recognized by Costas at Brewers’ stadium during the eulogy. Among his many music stops and chops, Skip was also lead singer of the highly-acclaimed 1980’s band New Colony Six and the diversely-talented virtuoso still tours with his one-man music and standup act. Skip’s illustrious CV also includes serving as touring guitarist for Olivia Newton John, who also passed away recently from breast cancer. Thoughts go out to Skip who lost two close pals in succession.
“THE TOUGHEST MAN IN SPORTS”…is a Greek fisherman! The Daily Herald recently published a feature on Spence Petros of Lake Geneva, WI, a National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Famer who’s listed among the “Living Legends of American Sportfishing.” He was also editor of Fishing Facts magazine for 22 years and still covers the sport for numerous blue-chip publications and is a go-to TV commentator. The Herald writer marveled at the 85-year old’s ability to cast lures for 14 straight hours without a break, and that’s after brain surgery which the writer notes is now 80% healed. Regardless, Petros is preparing for a late 2025 fishing expedition at this very moment.
WALKING ON AIR: Award-winning filmmaker, producer, and inventor Jerry Vasilatos recently became the first amputee in Chicago and first Greek American to receive a “groundbreaking Compress Fit Osseointegrated Implant, marking a major milestone in prosthetic innovation and patient care,” reads the press release. The bone-anchoring leg implant procedure was performed by surgeons at Northwestern Medicine. Some of Jerry’s notable credits include “The Dark Knight Project”, “Gangland” on the History Channel, the documentary “Diary of a Bodybuilder,” and hosting the YouTube show “Chicago Corner.” Jerry is now based in Hollywood.
GREEK FILM EXPO: The Consulate General of Greece in Chicago and the Hellenic Film Society are co-hosting Chicago Greek Film Expo October 17-21 at the Pickwick Theater in Park Ridge, IL. Visit the Consulate’s facebook page.
SOUNDING ON: Veteran film and video producer Val Gobos, a Chicago native who’s spent the better part of the last decade in Los Angeles, will be making a homecoming of sorts. She’s partnering with Studio Jijiji on an immersive sound project that will debut in the Windy City that focuses on audio advertising for brands, agencies, and creators.
101-YR CANDLE IN GREEKTOWN’S WIND: For the past century, Athenian Candle on Halsted Street in downtown Chicago has stood as a pillar of the Greek community and the anchor of the remnants of the former glory of the once mighty Greektown Delta. For about 70 of those years, that candle was manned by Tom Paspalas. In August, he passed away at the age of 101. And what a magical life it was for Tom, a World War II decorated Naval aviator who fought in the Pacific, longtime Big 10 football official and supervisor, and player and committee member of the National Hellenic Invitational Basketball Tournament. Tom’s selfless life included helping many Greek kids get started in their careers. May his bright beacon flicker for all eternity.
GREEKTOWN RE-GROWS: After decades of gentrification, in late August Greektown Chicago got a needed ouzo shot in the arm with the grand opening of Ithaki Estiatorio, a Mediterranean-themed restaurant located near the National Hellenic Museum. The open-kitchen concept has wall-size sliding glass windows allowing maximum exposure to those famous Windy City Odyssey-like gusts.
ROCKIN’ RESTAURANTEURS: Longtime Naperville residents Peter Georganas and his wife Sandy Georganas have quietly built themselves a stellar second career. The two are minority partners with longtime restauranteur Michael Vai, brother of famous rock legend, guitarist Steve Vai. Non-rockers may remember him from the 1986 film “Crossroads” staring Ralph Macchio, where he played the Devil’s guitarist. Steve Vai and his entourage make regular pitstops at Vai’s Naperville, one of the hottest Italian joints in the area. The Georganas couple are also partners in the new Fire & Wine and Entourage restaurants. Michael Vai now has about five locations in the greater Naperville/Aurora/Plainfield area, which combined have upwards of 400,000 residents. Many locals will recall Peter as lead bouzoukia from the John Georganas Greek band, which included Peter’s siblings Tasia Georganas Kerstein and George Georganas, owner of the popular Peanuts tavern in the heart of Naperville’s hot downtown river-walk district.
FOXY GALS: Suburban Chicago native Vasi Prokos is now in her second year as a reporter for the local FOX TV news affiliate in Lexington, KY…Jameson Sotheby’s star realtor Monica Canellis was named to the Chicago Agent Magazine “Who’s Who 2025.” She’s the philhellene wife of FOX32 Chicago sports anchor Lou Cannelis…And yet another foxy reporter, Kasey Chronis, is a Chicago native livin’ the dream for her hometown FOX32.
There’s so much more but only so much space. I might have to shock my publisher with another in a week or two tops. Until next…
Terry Poulos is a writer, entrepreneur (TheSportsIndex.com), and geometer-artist (Scientiquity.com) who has also covered Greek America for decades for various outlets. He’s co-founder of Chicago’s Greek Media Club and a member of the AHEPA Athletics Hall of Fame selection committee
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