MANCHESTER, NH – Elias (Louie) Kourtis, 76, long-time resident of Manchester, NH, died after a tragic accident.

Louie was born in Porti, Greece on January 18, 1946 to Nikolaos and Ioulia Kourtis. At age 18, he served in the army and was stationed in Cyprus for two years. In 1967, he moved to the United States and began working in Lowell, MA at the Olympia, a restaurant owned by his sister, Barbara, and her husband, Peter.

In 1972, Elias returned to Greece and was introduced to the love of his life, Evangelia. The couple wed on October 22, 1972 and came to reside in Lowell that December. A few years later, they, along with Louie’s older brother, Sam, struck out on their own and opened what became a staple in Manchester: the Athens Restaurant. There, patrons were treated to authentic Greek cuisine while sitting in iconic blue booths. Patrons and staff became friends, and many of those friends became family.

Over the next 45 years, Louie and Evangelia raised two sons, Nick and Ioanis, who spent many hours playing and completing homework in those blue booths.

Of the many things he loved in this world, Louie loved his family most. He was continually proud of their accomplishments and always toasted to their success with a glass of Canadian Club on the rocks – with a lemon, of course.

His passing leaves a void in the hearts of all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Louie is survived by his wife, Evangelia Kourtis; his children, his eldest son Nick and grandson Elias of Juneau, Alaska, and younger son Ioanis and daughter-in-law, Katie, of Manchester; his sister, Barbara, and his brother, Sam. He is preceded by his brother, Demetrios, his sister Kiki, his brother-in-law, Peter, and his parents, Nikolaos and Ioulia.

His Funeral was held at the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, 111 Island Pond Road, Manchester, NH and his burial was in Pine Grove Cemetery, Manchester, NH.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 111 Island Pond Road, Manchester, NH 03109.