Stickney Mayor Jeff Walik and the Stickney Board of Trustees honored Trustee Sam Savopoulos for his dedication and service to the village at their Feb. 4 village board meeting.
Before a packed board room, officials unveiled a street sign naming the 3900 block of Euclid Avenue “Savopoulos Family Way.”
Savopoulos is ailing and attended the meeting via Zoom.
During the presentation, Mayor Walik read a proclamation dedicating the day “Sam Savopoulos Day in the Village of Stickney.”
Savopoulos is a longtime resident of the Village of Stickney and attended Home Elementary School.
Over the last few decades, he worked his way up in the family restaurant business of Alexander’s Pancake House on Pershing Road in Stickney from dishwasher, to bus boy, to cook, to general manager/owner.
Mayor Walik chuckled as he said Savopoulos is affectionately known as the “Potato Pancake King.”
Savopoulos was appointed trustee in August of 2012, then was elected to that same position in May of 2013.
“He has dedicated more than 10 years to the village in the position of trustee and has improved the village through his heartfelt service to its residents,” said Walik.
“The entire Savopoulos family has supported many local charities in the area, including the Stickney Police Association, Stickney Lions Club, Stickney Library, St. Pius Church, both Stickney schools and many others.”
“The seniors loved his soup. We would have an event and he would show up with a 55-gallon drum of it!.”
Walik said Savopoulos is an asset to the village as an elected official, colleague and friend.
“I, Mayor Jeff Walik and the Board of Trustees wish to express our sincere thanks to Sam for his lifelong service to the village and hereby dedicate today as Sam Savopoulos Day in the Village of Stickney.”
Savopoulos’ son Billy, and other family members were on hand and proud of the street renaming.
Savopoulos is up for re-election on April 1, along with current Trustees Leandra Torres and Tim Kapolnek. Current Trustee Mitch Milenkovic is running for Village Clerk, and Mayor Jeff Walik is up for re-election. They are all running unopposed.