Ilias (Louis) Starogiannis, 85, of Oakville, Ontario, passed away peacefully on January 20, 2026, after a brief hospitalization due to complications with kidney failure and heart issues. Ilias was a cherished husband, father, grandfather, cousin, godfather, and friend. He will be sorely missed.

Ilias was born in the small agricultural town of Xirokambi, Hellas in the looming presence of Mount Tayetos. He was a child born to sunshine, the scent of citrus and the musk of ancient olive groves. The product of a rural upbringing, his parents George and Angeliki raised Ilias to be a scholar, a stoic, and a person of deep and closely held faith. He excelled at the classical Hellenic endeavors of Mathematics, Gymnastics, Track and Field, and irony. After high-school Ilias completed his military service at the tank driving school in Laconia.

Following his military service Ilias followed many of his peers to Canada, seeking economic opportunities away from a war-torn and slow-to-recover motherland. In 1965, with a suitcase, a smile, and youthful enthusiasm he left his parents, siblings, and Hellas behind. Ilias’ arrival in Canada was not without its challenges. Ilias possessed his suitcase, a few dollars, and no English. Fortunately, the Hellenic diaspora in 1965 Canada was vibrant and supportive. He found accommodation in a rooming house amongst other Hellenic bachelors. He was immediately employed by a caring Hellenic entrepreneur at a fancy restaurant in downtown Toronto. Given his lack of English proficiency at the start, Ilias worked through progressively more responsible roles in the hospitality business, from bus boy, to waiter, to bar keeper, to manager.

Eventually his entrepreneurial spirit took over and Ilias began his own business. Through the years he owned and operated various businesses ranging from fine dining establishments, to catering, to french bistro style diners. Through it all, Ilias was indomitable, tackling economic downturns and recessions with the stoicism his friends and family came to know him for.

In 1968, after 3 years in Canada, he married Despina, having met her through an Orthodox Church function. A year later, in 1969, they had their first child George. Three years later, in 1972, they had their second child Michael. That same year they bought their first home, the “pink bungalow", in south Scarborough.

Ilias and Despina were the consummate providers, raising their family in love and abundance. They facilitated the biennial export of George and Michael to Hellas, to spend summers with their grandparents, and to be steeped in the language, history, and culture of their parents. Ilias and Despina were militant about education, ensuring that both George and Michael excelled and pursued university education.

After decades of hard work, Ilias retired in 2003. Retirement didn’t change Ilias’ passion for working. He helped Michael start up his own fledgling business the following year. Soon after that Ilias’ “retirement” truly set in. By no coincidence, this coincided with the arrival of Ilias’ first grandchild and namesake in 2004. In the fullness of time Ilias was blessed with 5 grandchildren in all: Elias, Theodore, Athena, Joseph, and Alexander. Ilias was the consummate Papou. Although he doted on them, he did it in his own classic stoic way, never pandering, always a realist, but always with unconditional love.

In 2014, Ilias and Despina sold the “pink bungalow" and moved to Oakville where they were surrounded constantly by their 5 grandchildren. Ilias learned quickly about the logistics of moving and feeding this small army of minions. Whether it was ballet, soccer, dance, music, swimming, jiu jitsu or robotics club, Ilias gave his time freely and with vigour.

Through all those years, Ilias was a social butterfly. He and Despina spent quality time building and maintaining many relationships with family, friends, and acquaintances. Ilias democratized friendship. Ilias was agnostic to culture and social status. Under Ilias’ tutelage, his young immigrant cook from the Omellette Gourmet went on to launch his own highly successful restaurant and catering business. Ilias gave willingly and unflinchingly, never holding back of his time, energy, or resources. He was an active participant in Toronto’s Xirokampi diaspora society. He encouraged and supported Despina in her participation with the Kastorian Society and in her decades long service to the Hellenic Community of Toronto.

Ilias was a scholar, a stoic, an entrepreneur, a husband, a father, and a grandfather. He was a good man and he will be missed.

Ilais is survived by his wife Despina, sons George (Titsa) and Michael (Rana), and grandchildren Elias, Theodore, Athena, Joseph, and Alexander.

VISITATION & SERVICE TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2026

VIEWING: 11:30AM-12:30PM
FUNERAL SERVICE: 12:30PM

STS. PANTELEIMON, ANNA & PARASKEVI
GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
11323 WARDEN AVE., MARKHAM

INTERMENT TO FOLLOW IMMEDIATELY AFTER FUNERAL SERVICE AT
ELGIN MILLS CEMETERY
1591 ELGIN MILLS RD E, RICHMOND HILL

MERCY MEAL AT THE CHURCH AFTER THE INTERNMENT

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING TO THE KIDNEY FOUNDATION OF CANADA IN MEMORIUM TO ILIAS USING THE FOLLOWING LINK:

HTTPS://TINYURL.COM/STAROGIANNIS