The world became a little less bright on October 2, 2026, with the passing of Vasili “Bill” Tombros. Born on November 17, 1937, in Corfu, Greece, Bill’s zest for life and his gift for entertaining with his unending humour, brought joy to everyone around him.

Bill was a loving husband for 64 years to his beloved Dina, devoted father to Dimitri (Lydia) and Popi (Danny), a proud grandfather and great-grandfather, and a loyal friend. Bill also leaves behind his two beautiful granddaughters, Kaly (Michael) and Koni (Brad), along with four amazing great-grandchildren: William, Abigail, Rosalind, and Penelope.

Whether he was delivering the Greek-Canadian newspapers to his friends, curating music play lists for gatherings, telling jokes, or sharing anecdotes of his time at The Papafeio Orphanage, Bill made every moment unforgettable and every forgettable moment memorable.

A master tailor, Vasili fashioned finely milled cloth into superbly tailored suits with style and finesse and marked them with the custom label of Tombros Tailors. A Tombros suit was created with the attention and precision he poured into his craft because he refused to give anything less than his best.

Bill is also survived by his brother Spiro (Pat) and sister Irene, along with his brothers-in-law, Paschalis (Aliki) and Kosta, all his nieces, nephews, and myriad friends from his native Greece, to his beloved home in Canada, and essentially any place in the world where he might have met and shared a heartfelt moment with virtually anyone.

Vasili’s life and legacy are marked by his incredible optimism, his enthusiasm, and his positivity. Vasili lived and loved to bring a smile to anyone’s lips and aimed to bring a sense of lightness and laughter to every gathering. He measured life not in gains or possessions, but rather in friends and happy instances. He approached each day with a zeal to find joy in the little things; success was measured in family and friends, happiness was measured in moments lived and shared, and life was measured in the moments of pleasure given and received.

Just shy of his 89th birthday, Bill left this life surrounded by his loving family and in the company of his lifelong best friend, Kleanthi Papanikas having travelled from Thessaloniki to be with him in his final hours. In Bill fashion, he endured much during these last few difficult months; despite everything, he still gave us smiles and insights that kept our hearts light and our memories sweet. We lost our beacon of joy, but we keep the radiance of the light he left behind.

Καλό ταξίδι, Billy. Θα μας λείψεις.

Service will take place at St. Panteleimon Greek Orthodox Church Markham Saturday, October 10th, 2026.
Viewing will be at 10:00 a.m.
Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m.
Interment at 12:00 p.m. Elgin Mills Cemetery.
The subsequent lunch will be restricted to immediate family.

Church regulations limit the number of arrangements allowed. Please do not send flowers to the church.