Sad News: Thomas (Gus) Kosta, of The Dish Restuarant, Dead at age 43

Funeral is tomorrow morning, and there are cars leaving from The Dish on 8th Avenue before 8am. Here is the death notice that appeared in the Times:

Kosta (Gus) Thomas
THOMAS--Kosta (Gus), passed away suddenly while on vacation in Nicaragua, September 5, 2007. Born June 7, 1964 in Queens NY, survived by parents George and Irene Thomas; sister and brother-in-law, Maria and Anesti Makedon; nieces, Irene, Nikki, and Anastasia Makedon; all of Queens NY. A former NYPD officer and founding partner/owner of "The Dish Restaurant" 201 8th Avenue Chelsea, NY, Gus loved people and life. His warm, welcoming smile greeted thousands over the years in his community. His shared adventurous zest for each and everyday was better than a morning coffee. A wake will be held at Fairchild and Sons 1570 Northern Blvd. Manhasset, NY 11030, 516627-2000. Saturday, September 15, 2007, 3pm-5pm and 7 pm-9pm; Sunday, September 16, 2007, 3pm-5pm and 7pm-9 pm. Funeral Mass, Monday September 17, 2007, 10 am, Greek Orthodox of St. Demetrios 84-35 152nd St. Jamaica, NY, 11432, 718-291-2420.

Here was a former policeman who ran a restaurant in the heart of Chelsea that became a center of gay life in the city's most famous queer shtetl. When I worked in the neighborhood I had breakfast there everyday, and without fail Gus would greet me and sit and schmooze for a bit. When my office moved uptown, i felt like I was losing touch with a community because I wouldn't be eating there every day. There were actually days I left home early just to have breakfast there even though it was completely out of my way and inconvenient, simply because it was an experience of home in a particular way. This is what Gus created. And it has hard to imagine Chelsea without him.

Comments

[Kally Merges]

1 of a kind cousin
"KOSTA THOMAS"

to anyone who has ever lost a love 1.....

life is about

a sec @ a time.....

a minute @ a time.....

a hour @ a time.......

and a life time of missing the 1 you LOVE.....

you will be missed by thousand which does not

= to a life time.....