Spiridon “Spiro” H. Fragoulias, 53, of Colts Neck, passed away peacefully on June 2, 2024. Born on April 15, 1971, Spiro lived a life full of passion, dedication, and love, leaving a lasting impact on all who knew him. Spiro was born and raised in Patras, Greece, where he worked in a local cinema with his family and proudly served in the Greek Army. Spiro’s family immigrated to Brooklyn, New York, where he and his wife Renee met. As their family grew, they planted their roots in Colts Neck, New Jersey, to raise their daughters.
Spiro’s entrepreneurial spirit and commitment were evident throughout his career. He was a beloved owner of several pizzerias, where his kind spirit and delicious food created cherished memories for many. Even after he left the pizza business, he enjoyed making homemade pies with his family and teaching his girls all his favorite tricks for Brooklyn-style pizza. In more recent years, Spiro established his own towing business, Triple S Express Transportation. His towing company was named after the cherished “S Club” of Spiro and his two beloved daughters, Stephanie and Serena. His commitment to his work was a testament to his dedication and love for his family. Spiro loved going to work each day on his truck, “Betsy,” and was always excited to greet the many friendly faces he would encounter on his daily route. He forged meaningful relationships with everyone he met, and not a day went by when he did not make someone smile. That’s just the kind of guy Spiro was. He cared deeply for others, always knew the right thing to say, and constantly pushed those around him to be the best version of themselves.
Spiro was also a devoted volunteer, generously giving his time to the American Youth Football and Cheerleading League (AYF). His journey with AYF began as a snack shed volunteer when his daughters were cheering with the Colts Neck Cougars. Spiro’s dedication to the organization grew as he joined the Colts Neck and AYF Executive Boards, continuing to contribute his time and energy even after his daughters graduated from the program. He cherished his Sundays spent checking in on local football teams and looked forward to traveling to Florida for Nationals each December. Spiro always had the best intentions – everything he did was for the kids. Some of Spiro’s proudest accomplishments were being awarded AYF Volunteer of the Year, the President’s Award, and most recently, being inducted into the AYF Hall of Fame.
A passionate sports enthusiast, Spiro would never pass up an opportunity to watch a New York Yankees or Knicks game, and will forever be a die-hard Jets fan…despite their record. Most of all, Spiro found immense joy in attending Villanova Basketball games. He and his wife, Renee, rarely missed a game at the Finneran Pavilion, Wells Fargo Center, or Madison Square Garden over the past two years. Cheering on the Wildcats brought him great happiness and strengthened the bond he and Renee shared while their girls were away at school.
Family was at the heart of everything Spiro did. He treasured spending quality time with his loved ones, and making each moment special, whether it was fully decorating his house in Christmas lights each year, driving his daughters to school all the way throughout high school, passing on his Greek traditions by teaching Serena how to prepare the Easter lamb, and cheering on Stephanie for fulfilling his childhood dreams of becoming an attorney. His warmth, sense of humor, and unwavering support made him a beloved husband, father, son, and brother. His light shined so brightly on everyone he met, and it would be impossible to replace him. We will continue to remember Spiro every time we see a Fourth of July firework display, watch a fresh snowfall, or hear DJ Khalid’s “All I Do Is Win.”
Spiro is survived by his devoted wife, Renee Ribellino-Fragoulias; his loving daughters, Stephanie (23) and Serena (20) Fragoulias; his caring parents, Theodora “Lola” Fragoulias and Bobby Fragoulias; and his supportive siblings, Dimitri Fragoulias, Roula Fragoulias, and Chrissy Palomo. His legacy of love, hard work, and kindness will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.
A visitation to celebrate Spiro’s life will be held on Thursday, June 6th, from 4:00-8:00 pm, at Holmdel Funeral Home, 26 S. Holmdel Rd, Holmdel, NJ 07733. A mass ceremony will be held on Friday, June 7th, from 10:00-11:00 am at Kimisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church, 20 Hillcrest Rd, Holmdel, NJ 07733. Spiro’s burial will follow on Friday, June 7th, from 1:00-1:30 pm at Green-Wood Cemetery at 500 25th St., Brooklyn, NY 11232.
Spiro will be deeply missed and can never be replaced, but his memory will forever remain a source of inspiration and comfort to all.
In lieu of traditional remembrances, Spiro’s family asks with gratitude that donations in his memory be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital (www.stjude.org)
For messages of condolence, or to share a favorite memory of Spiro, please visit his tribute page at www.HolmdelFuneralHome.com