Obituary of Kostas "Gus" Routsis

Kostas “Gus” Routsis, 92, of Glastonbury, beloved husband of the late Anoula (Stamos) Routsis, died Wednesday, May 17, 2016 at home. Born in Albania on December 12, 1923 to the late Dimitri and Janulla (Kazaqi) Ruci, he came to the U.S. when he was 14 years old. Gus earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from Wesleyan University, Middletown, in 1951, served in WWII in the OSS, and worked as a chemist at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft where he designed batteries and holds patents for metallic coating of engine parts. He was a member of the Greek Orthodox Church in Hartford, raised his children in East Hartford and retired to Florida for three decades before returning to CT to live with his daughter Barbara in Glastonbury. Gus’s whole life, he kept up with his friends around the world and always put family first. He is survived by his three daughters, Christine Fritz, Diane Turnshek, and Barbara Traverso, his eight grandchildren, Robert Fritz, Barbara Fritz, James Turnshek, Steven Turnshek, Alex Turnshek, Matthew Turnshek, Jeremy Traverso and Melina Traverso, and his brother Vasil Ruci. He was predeceased by his brother, Jeorgi Routsis and his sister Melpomeni (Ruci) Nika. A funeral service will be held, Saturday, May 21 at 12 noon at the Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Ave., Glastonbury. Military Honors will follow the service outside the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Wesleyan University (Chemistry Department) 45 Wyllys Ave., Middletown, CT 06459. For online condolences please visit www.mulryanfh.com