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John Glaros, retired priest, former politicianBy Times staff writer© St. Petersburg Times published June 24, 2002 Father John Gust Glaros, a former Plant City mayor and Hillsborough County commissioner, died Saturday (June 22, 2002). He was 81. He owned the Dixie Restaurant in Plant City and served as a priest at several Greek Orthodox churches. Born in Plant City on Nov. 21, 1920, Father Glaros attended school in Greece and returned to the United States at age 18. He joined the U.S. Army and was trained in special operations, serving in Greece, Yugoslavia and Africa during World War II. After the war, he owned a food market on Kennedy Boulevard in Tampa and delivered oil and coffee products. In the mid 1950s, he bought the Dixie Restaurant from his uncle, Nick Glaros. He became a Plant City commissioner in the late 1950s and later served as mayor. He sat on the Hillsborough County Commission from 1967 to 1971. "I don't think he ever dreamed he would go into politics. He just liked people," said his daughter, Linda Konstantinidis. "He was the type of person if something needed to be done in the community, he made sure it was done." He was ordained as a priest in 1976 and helped churches on an as-needed basis. He retired in 1997. At the time of his death, he was living with his daughter in Clearwater. He died from complications from stomach cancer. He is preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Cribbs Glaros. Survivors include two sons, Steve Glaros of Jacksonville and Jim Glaros of Plant City; one daughter, Linda Konstantinidis of Clearwater; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Wells Memorial Funeral Home, 1903 W Reynolds St., Plant City. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. John Greek Orthodox Church, 2418 Swann Ave., Tampa.
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