A love for his community brings Tsoupelis back home
Sept. 15, 2002

Photo by ELIZABETH A. MUNDSCHENK Symeon Tsoupelis Jr.

By LINDA MURPHY
Observer-Dispatch

After the fire at his family’s restaurant last February, Symeon A. Tsoupelis Jr. supervised the reconstruction of Symeon’s Greek Restaurant, a job that “took maturity and nerves of steel,” said his father, Symeon Tsoupelis.

For this and other marks of leadership, James G. Hill of Herkimer County Trust Co. and Rudy D’Amico of Express Systems Integration nominated Tsoupelis Jr.

“His supervision and push to get the restaurant rebuilt and back in operation were indisputable evidence of his leadership skills and determination, as well as his family devotion,” Hill said.

Tsoupelis Jr., 32, is vice president of Symeon’s Greek Restaurant Inc. Besides managing the day-to-day operations of the popular Yorkville restaurant, Tsoupelis Jr. volunteers his time and skills in a number of ways:

E Volunteer chef for the Cystic Fibrosis “Taste of Greater Utica” annual fund-raiser.

E Volunteer chef for Hospice Care Inc.’s “Epicurean Delight” annual fund-raiser.

E Organized a benefit for a cancer patient, helping to raise more than $30,000.

E Participant and supporter of the BOCES Job Shadowing Program.

E Assists his father in many inner-city youth programs.

Tsoupelis Jr. said he learned the community service habit from his father.

“I had a good example in my dad. One of the things he instilled in all his children is it’s better to be in the giving line than the receiving line,” Tsoupelis Jr. said.

Tsoupelis Jr. grew up in North Utica and New Hartford. He earned a degree in business administration from Providence College in Rhode Island before returning to the region.

The oldest of four children, Tsoupelis Jr. is the only one of his siblings who chose to live in the Mohawk Valley.

“I feel a special bond from growing up here. There is so much to do — the Adirondacks are so close by and we have the four seasons, which I love. And I had a great opportunity here with my dad,” Tsoupelis Jr. said.

Hill said Tsoupelis Jr.’s love for the community is illustrated by his willingness to use his abilities to help nonprofit agencies.

“Symeon could have taken his talent, remarkable personal qualities and desire to help his community almost anywhere and been successful. Instead he chose to return to our region and his family,” Hill said.

Tsoupelis Jr. lives in New Hartford with his wife, Shelli, and daughter, Sophia.