Obituary: Epaminondas G. Sofis / Co-founder of Greek Orthodox Church in Mt. Lebanon
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Epaminondas G. "Rick" Sofis grew up in Mt. Lebanon and raised his children there.
Residing in the South Hills suburb his entire life, he worked hard to bring his Greek heritage and Greek Orthodox faith there.
Mr. Sofis and his wife, Nancy Cingolani Sofis, were among the 77 founding families of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church on Gilkeson Road. The church was founded in 1954 and steadily grew to its current 600 families. Through the decades Mr. Sofis was an involved member of the church, serving at times as president of the parish council and on the building committee for more than 30 years.
Mr. Sofis died Sunday at his home of heart disease. He was 72.
During his youth, Mr. Sofis and his siblings often worked at Sofis Corners Restaurant, a Downtown business operated by his parents, the late George P. Sofis, and Lucy G. Sofis, now of Bridgeville.
Sofis Corners, which featured Greek cuisine, was near the former Carlton House hotel, now the site of One Mellon Center, and remained in business until the building was demolished to make way for the Steel Plaza subway station.
Mr. Sofis was a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, stationed in Fort Hood, Texas, and was a 1957 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh.
After college he worked as a stockbroker for several years at Arthurs, Lestrange & Co. in Pittsburgh and then was involved in residential real estate for 30 years. He founded Sofis Properties, which did business in Pittsburgh and St. Petersburg, Fla.
A Pennsylvania licensed real estate agent, broker and appraiser, he was a longtime board member of the Apartment Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh.
"He loved life and he loved people," his wife said. "He was very gregarious and he liked to help people, and was a mentor to many in the real estate business."
Mr. Sofis "was very generous with his time in helping the church," said the Rev. John P. Chakos. He was especially involved in upkeep, maintenance, renovations and construction in the ever-growing church. Projects included construction of a new church building in 1969, a new community center that opened in 1993 and a major renovation that was completed in 2004.
Gardening, jazz and lacrosse were some of his other interests, his wife said. "He loved to garden and he especially loved annuals. He would try different things every year."
Lovers of jazz, Mr. and Mrs. Sofis were members of the Pittsburgh Jazz Society. He was a founding member of the Pittsburgh Lacrosse Club and a longtime member of the Pittsburgh Athletic Association.
Survivors, in addition to his wife and mother, include two daughters, Alexandra of New York City and Diana of Mt. Lebanon; a son, Christopher, of San Francisco; three brothers, Thomas of Milan, Italy, George of Mt. Lebanon and Constantine of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and two grandchildren.
Viewing will be today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Beinhauers, 2630 West Liberty Ave., Beechview, with a Trisagion service at 7:30 p.m. Additional visitation will be tomorrow from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. service at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, 123 Gilkeson Road, Mt. Lebanon. Interment will be in Mt. Lebanon Cemetery.
First Published September 26, 2007 12:00 am
