Wellsville, NY - Constantine James “Gus” Rigas, 87, passed
away on May 19, 2017 surrounded by family at Jones Memorial Hospital, in
Wellsville, NY. He was born in Wellsville on November 11, 1929, the son of
James John and Helen (Brazas) Rigas.
On November 23, 1951, Gus married Rheba Lamar Vincent in
Wellsville and together they raised five children. Gus attended Greek School in
Wellsville with his siblings and the other Greek children from the
community. He graduated from Wellsville
High School in 1947, attended Alfred University, and graduated from the
University of Buffalo in 1951 with a B.A. in Biology.
Gus ran the Texas Hot Restaurant in Wellsville with his
partner James Raptis which they inherited from their fathers in 1951, until
they transferred ownership to their sons. Gus, his brother John Rigas, and
friend Dave Scoville, built housing complexes in Wellsville in the late 1960’s.
Gus and John started the Wellsville T.V. Cable Company and built additional
cable systems and franchises throughout New York and Pennsylvania. Together
with his brother, Gus (Vice President), and John, (CEO), formed Adelphia
Communications Corporation which grew to be one of the largest cable companies
in the country.
In 1981 Gus left the cable business and moved to Bonita
Beach, Florida where he opened the Green Onion Restaurant in Naples in 1983.
While in Florida, Gus purchased real estate throughout the area and opened
Tovar Farms with Eddie Hedlund and Chris Tovar. With the help of Steve Adams,
Gus, Eddie, and Chris farmed strawberries, tomatoes, squash and peppers.
Gus was an avid golfer and belonged to the Wellsville,
Imperial, Quail Creek, and Naples Country Clubs. He was also a member of the
Naples Elks Club and Chairman of the Allegany County Democratic Committee.
Gus loved music, movies, travel, and sports, especially
attending St. Bonaventure University basketball and Alfred University football
games with his many friends and family.
Gus enjoyed the social aspects of hunting and fishing, and loved the
outdoors, especially tending to the property at “The Farm” in Andover, NY. Gus spent countless hours feeding the fish in
the ponds, and overseeing the mowing, planting and caring for the many acres
surrounding the property. Gus and Rheba loved entertaining their countless
family and friends, and their doors were always open.
Gus remembered everyone he met; his favorite pastime was
reminiscing with old friends and getting to know new ones, and his smile would
light up the room. Gus loved everyone; the entire Wellsville community, his
friends and family, and the Texas Hot.
He could be seen in his favorite booth every morning having breakfast
and was quick to greet and entertain generations of families with his sharp wit
and wonderful stories. Above all else, Gus loved people. His legacy will be preserved by the lives of
so many that he touched.
Gus is pre-deceased by his parents, his sister, Mary Hastas,
his brothers-in-law, James Hastas and Bill Pallas, and his sister-in-law Doris
Rigas.
Gus is survived by his wife Rheba of 65 years, his brother
John J. Rigas, sister Katherine R. Pallas, and children, son James R. (Aileen)
Rigas, daughter Diana R. (Steven) Pease, son John C. (Cheryl) Rigas, daughter
Katherine C. (Philip) Chin, and son Christopher C. (Elizabeth) Rigas, grandsons Andrew, James, Timothy, Alexander,
William, Jamie, Paul, and Nial, granddaughters Jennifer, Liz, Kerry, Sara,
Erica, Katie, Anne, Eleni, and Dina, and fourteen great-grandchildren Travis,
Andrew, Kelsey, Mia, Shirlyn, Felicity, Lexi, Hendrick, Shiree, Natalie, Adam,
Angela, Luke, and Ellington.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday (May
23, 2017) at the Immaculate Conception Church in Wellsville. There will be a private burial service at St.
Joseph’s Cemetery in Scio. The family
invites you to share stories and celebrate the life of Gus at a reception from
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday (May 23, 2017) at L’Italia in Wellsville.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a Wellsville
Central School Scholarship Fund established in Gus’s memory to be presented
each year to a Wellsville graduate by one of Gus’s grandchildren or
great-grandchildren. Donations can be made out to: Wellsville Central School
Scholarship Fund (in memory of Gus Rigas) and mailed to: 126 West State Street
Wellsville, NY, 14895. To leave online condolences please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.
