Jerry A. Hourdas

Jerry A Hourdas passed away on Saturday, December 21, 2024 surrounded by his loving family. The son of George Hourdas, a sponge diver, and his wife Athena Leondakos Hourdas, Jerry was a life long resident of Tarpon Springs. He graduated from Tarpon Springs Sr High School in 1959 and was awarded a football scholarship to Florida State University, the  first in his family to graduate from college. 

He returned to Tarpon and took a position teaching at Dunedin Jr High School. In 1969 he transferred to Tarpon Springs Sr High where he taught for over 30 years. He was a beloved teacher to his students and coached football and basketball for the school. He was well-known for pulling pranks on co-workers and students alike. During the summers he worked for the Tarpon Springs Recreation department, cooked in the family  restaurant, Hermes, and sold real estate. 

He met the love of his life, Linda, at FSU in 1962 and married her in 1965. Together they raised their children George, Maria and Beth and welcomed Alia into their home as their own. Jerry enjoyed weekly poker nights with the guys, Friday night football games, watching college football, cooking for his family, working in his yard, throwing his cast net off the dock and smoking mullet. He was a long- time member and former president  of the Ahepa and was a member of the JayCees. Jerry gave his children an amazing childhood filled with memories of boating in the Gulf, spending summer days at Anclote Key, camping,  traveling, and annual summer trips to Walt Disney World. 

Jerry is survived by his wife of 59 years Linda, his brother Peter Hourdas, his children George K Hourdas, Maria Hourdas-Hurst, Elizabeth Hourdas Ariza and Alia Cowan. His nephews George P Hourdas , James Hourdas, Chris Reed, niece Aubrey Reed and 9 grandchildren. 

Visitation will be Thursday, December 26 at 11:30 am at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral with the funeral service following at 12 pm. Interment will take place at Cycadia Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers a donation can be made to Ahepa of Tarpon Springs. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jerry A. Hourdas, please visit our floral store.