Gus Stavros, prominent philanthropist and World War II veteran, dies at 97

Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay and other arts and educational organizations in the region are mourning the death, but also celebrating the life, of Gus Stavros, a prominent philanthropist who died Oct. 18 at 97.

Born in 1925 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Stavros served in World War II under General George Patton, earning a Purple Heart and Bronze Star, before embarking on a career in business. He moved to Pinellas County in 1958 and two years later founded a company called Better Business Forms. Stavros and his business partners owned and operated the firm until 1984, when it was acquired by Progress Energy. He was also a former minority owner of the Tampa Bay Rays.

The sale of his company allowed Stavros to embark on an epic run of education-focused philanthropic endeavors. He was instrumental in the launch of two local Junior Achievement programs — BizTown and Finance Park — that have been replicated worldwide. According to JA, more than 400,000 schoolchildren, including 30,000 in the Tampa Bay region, have benefited from the programs’ financial literacy, entrepreneurship and career readiness curriculum.

Stavros was also known for his desire to give away his entire fortune while still alive.

“His intention was to die poor,” Tampa Bay JA President Richard George says, “but he’s left a rich legacy and impact.”

George recalls how Stavros “single-handedly” convinced then-Miami Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga to finance a BizTown and Finance Park facility in Fort Lauderdale. “Now there are 50 such facilities,” he says. “Economic education for young people, to empower them, was his wheelhouse.”

Stavros didn’t limit his philanthropy to economic education causes. He and his wife, Frances, were patrons of numerous arts organizations, including Ruth Eckerd Hall, St. Petersburg's Palladium and Museum of Fine Arts, the Dalí Museum, the Mahaffey Theater, American Stage and the Holocaust Museum.

Stavros was so generous with his wealth, George recalls, that his coffers started to run dry when he was in 70s, which limited what he could do, financially, for JA. But that didn’t stop him from inspiring others, like Huizenga, to open their wallets.

“What he didn’t give us in treasure,” George says, “he sure gave us in time and talent.”

The Stavros name will live on for generations in many places, none more prominently than the Gus A. Stavros Institute in Largo, a Pinellas County Schools facility that houses the Pinellas Education Foundation and JA’s local BizTown and Finance Park programs.

Gus and Frances Stavros were married for 68 years before she preceded him in death. He is survived by their three children, Ellen, Paul and Mark; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.