Costas Tsoutsouras

Costas Tsoutsouras, 87, of Ipswich, passed away peacefully on September 21, 2022 of cancer.

At twelve years old, Costas, known as Charlie, lost his father and took over the family cobbler shop, Central Shoe Repair, where he fixed shoes, sold clogs and made custom sandals and belts for the next 60 years.  A vital man who loved life and all its complexities with a big open heart and a flexible spirit, from these simple beginnings he went on to become both a familiar and well-loved local figure as well as a man of the world, with friends from all walks of life. He traveled widely from an early age, visiting both well and less traveled places, where he met people and did things that didn’t happen to other travelers. In Soviet Russia, he spent a night drinking vodka with a guy he met on the street. In Haiti he played poker with the secret service. He clammed. He fished. He gardened. He loved classical music, opera and art. He was a talented chef; eating out with him was an exercise in deciphering what ingredients went into the meal, and a discussion of how he would have prepared it. He had a weekly poker group for the better part of his life. When his contemporaries began to die, he continued the game with their children.  Charlie gave selflessly, to his family, to his many friends, to anyone who crossed his path who needed an extra dollar, with a helping hand, a listening ear. He was the one to call in the middle of the night, with the story you didn’t want to tell anyone else.

Whether from the back of his boat, at his home, or from a cooler, he showed up with delicious food for every occasion, and anyone lucky enough to be at his table went home with a full stomach and the understanding that his was truly food for the soul.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 40 years, Bette Tsoutsouras, his daughters Deahn Leblang (late husband Russell Leblang), Lori Byman (James Byman) and Mia Morgan (John Morgan), his sister Christine Galanis, grandchildren Molly, Alexander, James, Charlotte, Laura, Charles, Lily, Lindsey and Piper, and nephews and niece.

His funeral service will be held 10 am Monday, September 26 in the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, 8 Lafayette Road, Ipswich followed by interment in the New Highland Cemetery, Town Farm Road, Ipswich. Family and friends are respectfully welcomed. Visiting hours will be Sunday 4 to 8pm in the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home, 6 High Street, Ipswich. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Trustees of Reservations (www.thetrustees.org)

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