Thomas Derecas, son of Maria Anastasiou and Peter Derecas was born in New York City September 10, 1929. After his mother died tragically in 1935, Thomas & his older sister Sophie lived with relatives in Philadelphia, PA for a few years, before being sent to the Leake & Watts Home School in Yonkers where he remained until he graduated from High School. After being honorably discharged from the United States Army, Thomas embarked on a career with the Teamsters Union as a Mechanic repairing vending machines on the platforms of the NYC subways and in movie theaters, while moonlighting as a bartender. Thomas lived most of his adult life in NYC's Greenwich Village neighborhood, where he met and married his first wife, Gloria Pizzorno, the mother of his only child, a daughter, Angela Derecas. After this first marriage ended, Thomas met and married his soulmate, the true love of his life, Patricia Tetlus, a union that would last for fifty-four years.
Thomas, aka "Tommy the Greek" lived an interesting and colorful life, loved and respected by many. After retiring from the Teamsters in 1972, Tommy continued his bartending, that first summer down the shore at the Surf City Hotel on New Jersey's Long Beach Island, and then in many NYC establishments, most notably at Bradley's famous jazz club through the late 1980's. A jazz buff himself, Tommy was friendly with many jazz greats - Zoot Zims, Jimmy Rowles & Bucky Pizzarelli - to name a few. Aftering retiring from bartending, Tommy continued to keep busy well into his eighties bartending on the charter Yacht Mariner III and also as first mate on The Chelsea Screamer, entertaining NYC residents and tourists alike with his stories of NYC history while pointing out landmarks as the boat traveled up and down the Hudson and East Rivers. On September 11, 2001, Tommy was aboard the Screamer, part of the crew that helped ferry people away from lower Manhattan to safety after the attacks on the World Trade Center, an act of selflessness that was later recognized by the United States Coast Guard and Federal Department of Transportation.
In 2015, Tommy & Patti became snowbirds, spending winters in Bradenton, Florida, a place they referred to as paradise. It was during the pandemic that they decided to make Bradenton their permanent residence where they lived until Patti's untimely death in July 2021. This was a devastating loss for Thomas, a sorrow and grief from which he would not recover. Existing in loneliness as long as he could, Thomas died peacefully on August 10, 2025, surrounded by family. He was just one month shy of his 96th birthday.
Thomas Derecas was preceded in death by his parents, Maria and Peter Derecas; his sister, Sophie Garvey and three of her children, his nephews, Richard and Thomas Garvey, and his niece, Joy Kay, and his beloved wife, Patricia Derecas. His memory will forever be cherished by his daughter, Angela Derecas Taylor, her husband, Thomas Taylor, and their two sons, the grandsons Thomas was so very proud of, Colin Taylor and Matthew Taylor; his step-daughter from his first marriage, Christine Bonesteel, and her daughters, Jennifer Bonesteel and son Brendan Gil, and Stephanie Bonesteel and her husband, Gary O'Callaghan; and many nieces, nephews and cousins in the United States and abroad including, Ann, Justin, Shannon, Thomas, Jamie, Jenna & Quinn Garvey, Daniel Gruen and Jared Kay of Florida; Susan Carlock of New Jersey; Kristen, Brad & Cassidy Sullivan of Connecticut; Rose Garvey of Delaware; Tara Wood of California and Dillon Gates of Texas; The Bokas and Kasotis families of Pennsylvania, The Doumas Family of Australia, and no less than four generations of Derecas descendants in Greece.
Within the coming days Thomas will be traveling from Florida to Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Queens, NY where he will be laid to rest alongside his beloved Patricia and also close to his mother, Maria Anastasiou aka May Derecas, whom he so tragically lost when he was only five years old. This will be a private affair for his immediate family only. A memorial celebration of Thomas life - wherein all will be invited to attend - will be arranged for a yet to be determined date this Fall of 2025.
In the interim, Thomas' family encourages you to upload photos, and share stories or messages of love honoring Thomas here. You may also wish to plant a tree and/or make a donation in Thomas' memory to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Attn: Father Nicholas Anctil Pastor, 10 Mill Road, New Rochelle, NY, 10804.
Lloyd Maxcy & Sons Beauchamp Chapel, 16 Shea Pl, New Rochelle, NY 10801, is in charge of arrangements in New York.
Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel, 604 43rd Street West, Bradenton, FL 34209, is in charge of arrangements in Florida.
