Louis A. Koutras

Louis A. Koutras passed peacefully on October 8, 2023.  He is survived by his devoted wife of 67 years, Mary Lambros Koutras; by his loving children Ernie (Irene) Koutras, Liz (David) Urban, Chris (Shelly) Koutras, and Dana (George) Palmer; by his adoring grandchildren Louis, Alexander and Peter Koutras, Lily Urban, Nicole and Melina Koutras, Snap (Elizabeth) and Charlie Palmer; and by his younger brother Demetre (Mary) Koutras.  Louis is predeceased by his parents, Anest and Demetra Koutras; his brother George Koutras; his brother and sister in-laws Pete and Connie Lambros; and his brother-in-law Theodore Mandris. 

Our Dad was born September 23, 1933 in Washington, DC. He was the middle son of Greek immigrants Anest and Demetra Koutras. First generation Americans, our Dad and his two brothers George (older) and Demetre (younger) were all college graduates, making their hardworking parents proud. My father graduated from George Washington University School of Pharmacology. He married the love of his life, Mary Lambros ( my mothers father Harry Lambros was one of the founders of St. Sophia) March 3rd, 1956. He always said he selected that date 3-4-56 so he wouldn’t forget it. After honeymooning in Havana, Cuba they soon moved to Montgomery, AL to serve in the USAF. His first two children, Ernie and Elizabeth were born there. After serving in the Air Force they moved back to the DC area to be near his extended family. They first settled in Tacoma Park and then Potomac. The two youngest children, Chris and Dana were born there. He owned an independent drug store, Governors Pharmacy.

After raising four children in Potomac, he achieved his lifelong dream to live on the water. They moved to Kent Island, MD first living directly on the Wye River and then to a water privileged community nearby. The best memories of the growing family, now including son and daughter in laws, were made in those houses. 

All of the above describes WHAT our Dad was- a son, brother, husband, father, father in law, grandfather and beloved community member. But WHO he was is probably best described through the many names he went by:

Lambros was his birth name- given to him by his adoring Mother. She was pretty sure her boys could do no wrong and there was no convincing her otherwise, so no one even tried. When my Mom would mention this all he could do was grin and say, well she wasn’t wrong.

Limy was the name those closest to him used most often. His brothers and friends from the neighborhood. People that were in his life for 90 years. He was Uncle Limy to his nieces and nephews. He enjoyed watching all of us running around wreaking havoc during family get-togethers. Then of course, our Mom. Her laugh or sigh followed by “Oh Limy” still probably echoes off the walls in that house in Potomac where they lived for over 30 years. She was the love of his life and he was hers. Together over 67 years- Limy and Mary almost became one word.

Eyeball or Eye - the origins of this can be described as a Greek Myth, we never got the full story. Apparently on the way back from a church function, our father managed to run over an already dead horse. It must have really stuck for his brother Demetre who called him “eye” well into their 70’s.

Pop/Dad - that is who he was to us. Daddy when we were younger I am sure but mostly Dad or Pop. The oldest Ernie started it and it just seemed to fit as we got older. I need to run this by Pop. Pop, what should I do about….. We will miss his wisdom, freely given even when we weren’t ready for it.

Fearless Leader- that is the name given to him by his niece Betsy. Our father stepped up to help guide and support her, her brothers Lee and Harry and their mother when their own father passed too soon. What a curious sight we were on our yearly family beach vacations-one man, two women and a gaggle of kids.

Papou - Oh, how he loved that! Eight grandchildren- Louis, Alexander, Snap, Peter, Charlie, Nicole, Lily and Melina. Each one special to him in their own way.

Doctor Lou - this is what the community called him as a beloved neighborhood pharmacist in the days before chain drug stores.

LT - The last 3 years of his life, he and our Mom lived in Colorado near Dana. On his desk sat an old memento from his days in the Air Force, it read LT Louis A Koutras. He became affectionately known as LT to the wonderful people that provided the care he needed. It was just like our Dad to go with the flow and respond to the new name LT at age 87.

So that is what and who he was in life- in death he will forever be the voice of reason in the head of his children, the love of a lifetime to his wife, the reminder to be loyal and kind to his grandchildren, the “wish you could have met him” to his future great-grandchildren, and lastly that glimmer of hope that in some way we all live forever in the minds of those we love.

Visitation will begin at 9:30am on Thursday, October 19, 2023 at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Washington DC; followed by the Funeral Service at 10am.  Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Silver Spring, MD. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral (Washington DC) or to Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church (Silver Spring, MD).