Panayiotis Pittas

Panayiotis A. Pittas, the nicest man on the planet and the embodiment of f???t?µ?, fell asleep in the Lord on May 19, 2017, following nearly 80 years of devoted service to his family, friends, and multiple generations of students. "Totis" was the beloved and devoted husband of Peggy Sheffer Pittas, the father of his adoring daughter, Alexia Pittas, and Papou to his grandchildren, George A. Pittas-Giroux and Isabella N. Webster of whom he was most proud. He is also survived by his two brothers, Nicholas Pittas, of Halifax, NS, Canada, and Akis Pittas, of Nicosia, Cyprus, and several smart and beautiful nieces, and two step-grandsons. His beloved little sister, Irena Pittas-Simon, predeceased him.

Born in Xeros, Cyprus on November 11, 1937 to the late Alecos and Eleni Pittas, Totis emigrated first to Canada where he studied engineering and mathematics and fell hopelessly in love with Peggy, a smart, beautiful farm girl he once described as having the "most innocent and pure heart of all." They married and made a marvelous life together in Lynchburg, Virginia, where they taught school inspiring countless students to pursue their dreams. Totis guided future engineers, doctors, lawyers, teachers, entrepreneurs, and even an astronaut. He wished his students to lead good, useful lives. Many hundreds of them credit him in part for their success. He preached education and kindness and would tell us all, "to be kind even when other people are not."

He loved gourmet food, single malt scotch, Arsenal soccer, cats, math, and, most of all, his family.

Funeral services will be held at St. Paul's Greek Orthodox Church on Monday, May 22, 2017 at noon with internment to follow at the Greenwich Section of Bonaventure Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5pm to 7pm Sunday, May 21, 2017 at St. Paul's.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Pittas Scholarship Fund at Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, Va.

May his memory be eternal.