Tony Psaris

Birth

Born on Aug 22nd, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York to Rose Psaris (née Lang) and John Psaris, Tony’s life was defined by his passion for sharing his life with others. Tony attended Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, New York and then Eastern Military Academy in Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island and Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. After working with his father at the Parkway Grill in Old Westbury, he joined the armed services as a Military Policeman in South Korea.

Marriage

Tony initially pursued interests in photography but soon returned to the restaurant business for the remainder of his working career. While working in New York City, he met the love of his life, Rachelle “Shelly” Leah Psaris (née Westreich). Tony and Shelly were married on Shelly’s birthday, February 7th, 1971.

Long Island

After a few years living in Bayport on Long Island, they moved to Coram, Long Island with plans to raise their family. Tony worked as the Bar Manager at the Harborside Restaurant from 1980-1986 and then the Manager of the Royal Oak Diner in Bellport, Long Island from 1986-2004.

Paris Diner

Initially retiring in 2004, he followed the siren call to reopen the Paris Diner previously owned and run by his father. His dedication to this effort saw him make the 1.5 hour car ride to Brooklyn and back every day. Even his diagnosis and treatment for prostate cancer would not stop his passion for running his own restaurant. Having brought the diner back to life in his childhood neighborhood, he retired again (this time permanently) in 2008. Reopening the Paris Diner would be Tony’s proudest accomplishment.

Avanti R1

Tony loved the cars of his youth and sailing. He spent his retirement sailing his C&C 29 from Mount Sinai Harbor and continuously improving his Studebaker Avanti R1, winning first place at a competition in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in 2011.

Religion

Tony was a proud Unitarian Universalist and spent many years as a member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Stony Brook, Long Island. Beginning in 1983, he and Shelly also spent many summers at the Life On A Star 2 conference on Star Island in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. They were proud chairs of the conference in 1996 and continued to attend until 2019. Even though he was unable to attend during the final years of his life, Tony always considered Star Island to be his “spirit’s home”.

Fritz

Late in life, Tony decided he needed a canine companion to see him through the remaining years of his life. Fritz, the Giant Schnauzer, arrived from Oregon in December 2018 and never left his side. Fritz brought great stories, funny pictures and years of joy for Tony. His favorite Giant Schnauzer joke was: “Silence is golden. Unless you have a Giant Schnauzer. Then silence is suspicious. Very very suspicious.”

Passing

At the age of 82, Anthony “Tony” Ferdinand Psaris passed away peacefully on Jan 11th, 2025.