Former Lambs Grill Cafe owner Theodore John Speros, 91, died Friday, March 17, at his home.
Mr. Speros graduated from Bingham High School and attended the University of Utah. He was a fixture at the popular Main Street restaurant in Salt Lake City for 60 years.
Mr. Speros started working at Lamb's in the early 1940s and eventually became a partner with its founder and longtime owner, George Lamb (shortened from Lambropoulos). When Lamb retired in 1973, Mr. Speros bought the business. His son, John, and daughter, Estelle, bought him out in 1977. John Speros bought out his sister's share of the business in 1985.
Ted Speros served as president of the Utah State Restaurant Association for two years. In 1985, he was placed in the Utah Restaurant Association Hall of Fame.
A member of the Greek Orthodox Church, Mr. Speros also served as president of the Salt Lake City Greek community for two years. He was active on several boards that included the Utah Opera and Utah Symphony and he helped found the National Conference of Christians and Jews.
In Mr. Speros' obituary, his family noted, "He will always be remembered in Salt Lake City for letting the underprivileged have a cup of coffee, a free meal, and slipping someone on the street a five dollar bill." The obituary also noted that in the last week of his life, he talked about the beef stock and rice pudding at his restaurant.
He was married to the late Katy Paulos for 59 years.
Funeral services are set for Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, 279 S. 300 West. Mr. Speros will be buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to Shriners Children's Hospital or another charity.