Tom Kataras, the long-time owner of Tom’s Family Restaurant in downtown Homewood, died Tuesday, Feb. 11, at his home in Florida. He was 75.
A celebration of Mr. Kataras’s life and legacy will be held in June in the Homewood area.
The Kataras family owned Tom’s Restaurant for 65 years. The business was started by Mr. Kataras’ grandfather and father who started in the restaurant business as Tom’s Sweet Shop. Later the family built a restaurant on Ridge Road and renamed it Tom’s Family Restaurant.
Mr. Kataras said he started working in the business when he was nine years old. He took it over, but it was always a place that other family members would join in working alongside him and his mother, Janet Kataras.
When Mr. Kataras closed the restaurant in 2012, it was the end of an institution. He had regulars who went for the food and the company. Tom was the cook, the owner, some would say the entertainment, too, for his opinions on pretty much any topic.
“Tom was unique,” Mayor Rich Hofeld said. “He was enthusiastic about Homewood.”
Fred Sierzenga, former owner of Suzie’s Hallmark, said he and his wife, Suzie, were lunchtime regulars at the restaurant. He especially enjoyed the turkey sandwich with fries that were coated with cheese.
“I never had a bad meal at Tom’s,” Sierzenga said.
Mr. Kataras served twice on the Homewood Village Board, from 1984 to 1987 and again 15 years later. He also was past president of the Homewood Area Chamber of Commerce.
Trustee Jay Heiferman said, “aside from being a customer (at Tom’s) since I was 8 years old, Tom and I served together on the village board. He was deeply dedicated to the success of the Homewood community. He will be missed.”
Mr. Kataras is survived by his wife, Colletta; son Jason and his wife, April, and son Peter and his wife, Sara, and four grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mr. Kataras’s name can be made to Izaak Walton League of America at https://www.iwla.org or his church, Glory to God Church, at https://glorytogodtinleypark.net/give.
