|
Hi Friends,
I have sad news. My Mother, Dorothy Conner Karukas, passed away last Monday August 26 after a long, painful battle with pancreatic cancer.
She beat the odds by surviving 2 years longer than most. We are thankful that the kids had this extra time to know their Yia Yia.
My Dad, Harry, is doing OK in trying to move on in life and we are right next door to help support him.
Words cannot express the mixture of sadness, gratitude and hope that continues as I reflect on her life and try to deal with her loss.
I'm dedicating my just finished CD, "Heatwave", to both my parents for their constant support, their tolerance of all my band practices in our garage, and for always allowing me to pursue my musical dreams. More info on that soon.
Sincerely,
Gregg Karukas
Dorothy Karukas, who with her husband, Harry, was a pioneering member of the Bowie, MD business community, passed away August 26th after after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. The couple, who recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, had enjoyed retirement together in Southern California since 1987. Born Dorothy Jeanne Conner in Aurora, Colorado and raised in Baltimore, she was the daughter of Arthur and Helen Conner. She met her future husband as an employee at his parents' restaurant, The Oriole Tower, later known as The James House. During their engagement, she served with Harry in the Army Counter Intelligence Corps in Salzburg, Austria, where they were married in January, 1951. Returning to Baltimore in 1952 , they started a family and later moved to Towson, MD, where their three young sons benefited from her encouragement to excel in academic pursuits, sports, and music. Seeking a fresh start, and attracted by the dynamic growth of the area, the couple purchased the Bowie Inn in 1963. Early Bowie residents saw the establishment grow from a modest 40's era roadside tavern to a spacious, modern restaurant and lounge at Route 450 and Race Track Road, now the site of the Outback Steak House. Under Dorothy's co-ownership, The Bowie Inn consistently offered a quality dining experience. It also served as a favorite gathering place for a loyal clientele that included many of the burgeoning city's prime movers. Along with a winning smile and low-key managerial style, she shared her husband's entrepreneurial spirit and ability to coordinate teamwork. Her workplace nickname, "Mrs. K", inspired the trade name for "Mrs. K's Gourmet Cheese Spread", a unique Bowie Inn appetizer. After being enthusiastically discovered one day by lunching supermarket executives, the product was mass-produced under her direction and sold at Safeway's Mid-Atlantic stores. She is survived by her adoring husband Harry, of Granada Hills CA, sons Jim, Steve, and Gregg, and two grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to a favorite charity.
|