Ypsilanti businessman and community leader Theodore Tangalakis died on Jan. 13 of natural causes.
Tangalakis, 94, was the original owner and founder of Theo’s Bar and Ted’s Campus Drugs, both located on Cross Street.
Born April 1, 1916, Tangalakis was raised in St. Louis, Mich. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Alma College. He also earned master’s degrees in organic chemistry and pharmacology.
During World War II, Tangalakis served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps as a captain. He was awarded the Soldier’s Medal by Gen. George Patton for his efforts in the Battle of the Bulge. Tangalakis had repeatedly entered a burning MASH unit hospital tent to save wounded soldiers.
Tangalakis was also the first American medical officer to enter and liberate the Nazi concentration camp, Bergen-Belsen. The event, according to son George, affected him deeply and lead to his trademark kindness.
“He said the horrors he saw were unmentionable and a clear illustration of what man can do to fellow man,” George said.
After the war, Tangalakis and his wife, Matina settled down in the Ypsilanti area. Tangalakis was raised in a small town, but Matina was from Chicago so the mid-size city feel of the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area was a compromise for the couple.
In 1946, Tangalakis opened Ted’s Campus Drugs, where it served the Eastern Michigan University and Ypsilanti community for 65 years, until it was sold this past year.
During his time, he became deeply involved in EMU and Ypsilanti. Tangalakis was inspired by his friends and family, as well as the youth of EMU, said George, who began helping out around Ted’s Campus Drugs at 9 years old.
“We grew up in a home where my father gave us his observations and his barometer was Eastern,” George said.
When Tangalakis first put down roots, EMU was still Normal College and had an enrollment of about 1,200 students. As he watched the school grow and flourish, he developed a strong passion for it, George said.
Tangalakis developed friendships with thousands of students, University officials and elected officials alike.
“He was truly a bridge,” George said. “He was capable of, without even trying, of bridging the gap between town and gown.”
As Tangalakis’ love and passion for the community grew, so did the community’s. In 1984, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Business degree from EMU. In 1985, he was presented with a Special Tribute from the State of Michigan Legislature.
Over the years, Tangalakis was recognized with many awards from varied organizations. He was EMU’s first “Citizen of the Year,” an honorary member of Kappa Phi Alpha and Kappa Kappa Psi fraternities, a member of the Mortar Board and Homecoming Grand Marshal, among other awards.
“Ted loved people,” was a subtitle for George’s eulogy. It is his love for people that he is most remembered for.
George’s eulogy was filled with stories of acts of love, generosity and kindness.
“An old Kappa Phi Alpha president shared that in ’83 the heat and gas at the fraternity house had been cut off,” George said. “Dad reached into his pocket and gave the brothers $1,800 to get the utilities back on.”
Tangalakis was remembered at Nile Family Funeral Home on Jan. 15. EMU President Susan Martin participated in remembering him by sending a wreath to Ted’s Campus Drugs.
“Nobody will replace him,” said Martin, who first met Tangalakis in Big Boy. Upon meeting the University president, he gave her a hug and became emotional as he expressed his excitement for the school and for her appointment.
“[He] loved the connected with Eastern students,” she said.
Tangalakis is survived by his wife, Matina; his son George and wife Linda of Novi; daughter Cerene Efftehia and her son Theodore of Ann Arbor; son Dean and wife Claudia and their children Angela, Kali and Michael of Brighton; his brother Stanley and wife Nancy of Clearwater, Fla.; sister Helen Theofilis of Clearwater, Fla.; and Marion Curtis of Ann Arbor.
