Constantine “Gus” Kardaras , 59, a self-made businessman and owner of T & C Meat Market in Chicago, died Tuesday, Feb. 3, of an aneurysm after an extended battle with myasthenia gravis, a neurological condition. Mr. Kardaras was born in Agios Polikarpos, Greece, a small village. He moved to Athens at age 14 to work for a printing company and a movie theater. During his time there, he also did some amateur boxing. He spent two years in the Greek Air Force. In 1967, he came to the United States and settled in Chicago. A few months later, he married his wife, Theodora. They were married for 36 years. Mr. Kardaras worked in a print shop until he started T & C Meat Market at North and California Avenues with a friend. He also began a dry-cleaning business for his wife to run, said his daughter, Eva. In 1984, the family left Chicago for Morton Grove, but kept the market in Chicago. He had just recently turned over the responsibility of running the business to his son, Peter. “The pride and joy of his last years was this farm he owned in Augusta, Wis.,” his daughter said. “He started raising goats and was devoted to trying to get more people in Chicago involved with raising goats.” His son said that Mr. Kardaras was also a practical joker with a unique sense of humor. “He would do things just to see how you reacted to it,” he said. One of his most famous pranks was deep-frying the ties of salesmen who came into the store on business. When Mr. Kardaras was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, relatives said he made every effort to educate himself about the condition. Other survivors include a sister, Penelope Ionas; and a brother, John. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, 2350 W. Dempster St., Des Plaines.
