Chrys Lynn Kotzambasis' Obituary
Chrys Lynn Kotzambasis
August 24, 1971 – April 29, 2026
The world is a little dimmer today.
We lost a shining star that lit up every room she entered.
It is with broken hearts that we share this devastating news, we lost our beloved Chrys Lynn this week.
It was unexpected and we are trying to understand a world without our bright, charismatic, loving, compassionate, funny, dramatic, talented and amazing sister, aunt, great aunt, Nouna and friend. Frankly, there aren’t enough adjectives to describe her larger-than-life personality.
For those who knew Chrys, you understood how lucky you were to be in her circle. She exuded a warm, loving light that drew people to her.
Chrys was born in Akron, Ohio, but our family moved to Arizona a few months after her birth, so she was a true desert girl. We settled in Tucson in 1972 and she lived her entire life here, to stay close to family.
She was an adorable little girl. Many are shocked to hear she was shy up until elementary school, because the Chrys most people knew and loved was a talker, who could talk and charm anyone. She also liked to sing, dance, run around barefoot and color on the walls as a little one.
Chrys loved her Greek heritage fully. She was a devout Orthodox Christian who taught Sunday School and was fully involved all the Greek organizations. Her favorites though, was Greek dance. She a member of award-winning groups at St. Demetrios in Tucson and she savored those times.
Chrys grew up going to the same schools as the rest of us, Lulu Walker Elementary, Amphitheater Junior High and Amphitheater High School. Chrys also attend Pima Community College, but her real passion was the restaurant business.
Our family owned El Greco’s, right by the University of Arizona. She grew up running around that campus with her big brother, Elias, and sister, Sandra. And like all of us, she worked at the restaurant until it moved and became El Greco’s Grecian Gardens. Chrys was essential to the business and learned to become an incredible restaurateur, just like our Dad, Pete. Once our parents sold the business, Chrys tried a few other things, that included working for a pest control company, becoming GM at World Market, taking on a leadership role at My Big Fat Greek restaurant in town, and finally landing with Red Lobster many years ago. The team there became like her second family.
No matter where she worked, people followed and found her. She greeted every customer with a smile, maybe a hug, but always wanting to know how they were doing. It was like she was welcoming them into her home.
She was all love. If you ever had a Chrys hug, you felt the comfort and love envelope you.
As her family, we got to see the silly and the serious. But most of all, we got to see what an incredible human being she was, no matter the circumstance.
She loved her parents, brother and sister deeply, but her niece and nephews even more. To Zoey, Alexander, Tole and Lukas, she was the fun Thea who took her role to heart. Whether it was a birthday, holiday, or just another day, she was there for them in every way imaginable. And her pride in who they are today, was evident every time she saw them. Now imagine how much that love grew with her grandniece June, and grandnephew Dino. Those babies were so precious to her.
What they won’t get to see is what we witnessed first-hand. Chrys loved reading, gardening, cooking, hosting family get togethers, music, dancing, singing, movies, Barbara Taylor Bradford novels, anything Royal Family, Tweety Bird, Betty Boop, unusual purses, red lipstick and a great martini.
In recent years, she cared for our Mom and she did it while working full time. It wasn’t easy but as she said, she was honored to be there for Lois.
Now they are together, with our Dad, and we have another angel to watch over us.
While we try to take comfort in that, for Elias, Sandra, Zoey, her husband Tyler and son Dino, Alexander, his wife Jacqueline and daughter June, Ptolemeos (Tole) and his wife Jordan, and Lukas, there is a void that we will never be able to fill. Chrys Lynn was one of a kind.
To honor her beliefs as a devout Orthodox Christian, we will celebrate Chrys in the church next week in Tucson.
We invite you to join us.
Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church
5910E. 5th St.
Tucson, AZ 85711
Wednesday, May 6: Visitation beginning at 5pm.
Thursday, May 7: Funeral Services at 10am.
Burial at Evergreen Cemetery immediately following.
3015 N. Oracle Rd.
What’s your fondest memory of Chrys?
What’s a lesson you learned from Chrys?
Share a story where Chrys' kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Chrys you’ll never forget.
How did Chrys make you smile?
