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Costas Triantafilos, the proprietor of the landmark Costas Inn in Baltimore, has died of carbon monoxide poisoning, his son tells PEOPLE
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His spouse of 64 years, Mary, was additionally hospitalized and is recovering
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“They cherished him,” Peter Triantafilos says of the group’s response
After a well known Baltimore restauranteur died of carbon monoxide poisoning earlier this week, his household is talking out in regards to the “unimaginable” father and pillar of the group whom they misplaced.
Costas Triantafilos, the 85-year-old proprietor of Costas Inn, died after he fell in his house on Monday, March 24, his son Peter Triantafilos tells PEOPLE.
Costas’ spouse, Mary Triantafilos, 83, was additionally affected by the lethal fuel that infiltrated the home however is recovering and anticipated to return house on Wednesday, March 26, her son says.
“That is the place the ache is available in, as a result of it wasn’t from being ailing or something like that,” says Peter of his father’s passing.
Peter has been operating the landmark seafood restaurant for 42 years together with his dad, which Costas first opened in 1971. “It was simply so sudden, so stunning as a result of he was so energetic,” Peter says.
Courtesy of the Triantafilos Household
Mary and Costas Triantafilos
Costas, who labored on the restaurant on daily basis, went house at roughly 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 23, for dinner together with his spouse of 64 years, his son says. There they ate and went to mattress like they usually do.
However Costas didn’t notice that when he hit the button to show his automobile off earlier than exiting the storage, the automobile was nonetheless operating.
“It was only a tragic mistake,” says Peter.
By the point Costas woke as much as go to work at 7:30 the following morning, the hooked up house was “engulfed” in carbon monoxide, Peter says. His dad fell as he acquired as much as brush his tooth, and Mary known as 911.
“She was on oxygen, which is what saved her,” says Peter. “However she by no means would’ve woken up if he did not fall.”
Mary initially thought her husband had gone into cardiac arrest. A press release from the Baltimore County Fire Department says that officers responded to a name at 7:37 a.m. on Monday from a house in Glen Arm, Md., for a reported cardiac arrest “which shortly escalated right into a hazardous carbon monoxide (CO) emergency,” matching the Triantafilos household’s description of what occurred.
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Courtesy of the Triantafilos Household
Mary, Pete, Nick, Christine and Costas Triantafilos
The division reported that “dangerously excessive CO ranges” had been within the house.
An investigation confirmed {that a} “automobile left operating in an hooked up storage” was the trigger. Each had been transported to a neighborhood hospital. (The hearth division didn’t instantly reply to PEOPLE’s request for additional remark.)
Peter says he knew one thing was “devastatingly improper” when he known as his dad that day and he didn’t reply.
His mother, fortunately, is “doing very well,” says Peter. He’s desirous to convey her house.
However the household is heartbroken, particularly his mother: “I do not know the way we even put that again collectively.”
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Courtesy of the Triantafilos Household
Younger Costas Triantafilos on a donkey
What has buoyed the Triantafilos household — lots of whom work at Costas Inn — is the “outpouring” of assist from the group.
“It simply speaks volumes about my dad,” Peter says. “They cherished him and he was a giant a part of the group for 65 years.”
Costas was a “very giving” man, as well-known for the scholarships he doled out as for his restaurant’s crab muffins.
He got here from humble beginnings: Based on his son, Costas moved to the U.S. from Greece in 1955 with simply $5 in his pocket. He didn’t know find out how to communicate English, however that didn’t cease him from incomes his diploma and getting into into enterprise when he was 17.
“He was simply an unimaginable mentor [and] function mannequin,” Peter says.
A devoted household man, Costas was additionally dedicated to his staff and clients. Even in his 80s, he stopped by the restaurant within the mornings and evenings to work alongside his sons, daughters and grandchildren.
“He may have been vacationing in Greece. He may have been taking time to loosen up, however that wasn’t him,” says Peter. “He stated, ‘I’ll work till I die.’ ”
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Peter remembers how one evening, a few yr in the past, Costas was half method house when he drove again to the restaurant as a result of he forgot to say goodbye to a buyer.
“He felt dangerous that he missed that individual,” his son says, explaining that Costas’ spirit impressed their entire household and staff on the restaurant.
Whereas family members grieve, the plan stays to construct a brand new restaurant, Timonium, which is about to open on the west aspect of the town in April.
“Now it is nearly fulfilling his dream,” Peter says, “and simply protecting his reminiscence and his legacy alive.”
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