Pete K. Metropulos

Peter (“Pete”) Kostas Metropulos, age 94, of Crystal Lake, IL passed away on Tuesday, May 20th, 2025, of natural causes. Pete was born on February 16, 1931, in a small village in Greece called Kerasa, Arkadias.

He was the loving husband of Ellen (nee Tziumi) for 59 years; cherished father of his daughter Tina Borges, and his son Jim Metropulos; beloved grandfather to Madison and Morgan, devoted brother of Maria Hasapis, brother-in-law of Eta Mitropoulos; and cousin, uncle and friend of many. Pete was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Bill and George.

Peter emigrated to the United States in 1951, settling in Crystal Lake, Illinois. With no money in his pocket and no knowledge of the language, he worked numerous jobs - construction, including building the field house at Crystal Lake Central High School in 1953, bartending at the Metro Bowl for over ten years and delivering home appliances and installing tv antennas for a local appliance store. In 1972, Pete and his partner, Gus Mouhelis, bought Downtown Grill at the corner of Williams and Woodstock in Crystal Lake. A few years later, they remodeled the place and renamed it the Olympic Restaurant and Lounge. The restaurant was very successful, and Pete loved making the food and entertaining his loyal customers. Pete worked at the restaurant until they sold the business, and he retired in 1998.

Pete enjoyed bowling, cooking, gardening, fishing, walking and watching WWE wrestling.

He was an active member of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church in Elgin and served as on the parish council for ten years in during the 1990s and 2000s. For many years, he was in charge of food preparation for the church’s summer Greek Festival. Pete was also the top seller of raffle tickets for many years sold for the festival that raised money for St. Sophia Green Orthodox Church. He was proud to see the new church constructed after many years of planning and collective hard work.

A visitation for Pete will be held from 10am until the time of services at 11am on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, 525 Church Road, Elgin, IL. Burial to follow at Crystal Lake Memorial Park in Crystal Lake, IL.

Memorials may be made to St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, 525 Church Road, Elgin, IL 60123. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Pete’s memory to the American Cancer Society.