Greene Turtle Founder Steve Pappas Dies at 72

Pappas and his friend Tommy Dickerson acquired the original Greene Turtle on Coastal Highway in 1981, while Pappas was studying at Salisbury University. They added a Baltimore location in Fells Point five years later. The business has since expanded to 23 sites in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia and Florida.

Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan remembered Pappas as a welcoming presence who made sure others enjoyed themselves, both at community gatherings and at the bar. Chad Jones, a longtime colleague and friend, said Pappas took a personal interest in people who worked for him. Pappas, also known as Pappo, was often someone customers hoped to see when they came in, Meehan said.

Born in Dundalk, Pappas relocated to the Eastern Shore to compete in lacrosse at Salisbury and remained there. He and Dickerson were barely out of college when they took over the pub, Jones said. Pappas later raised his children in Ocean City and supported the city’s Recreation and Parks Department. Jones also credited him with helping lacrosse grow in the area, including through a tournament.

Pappas’s sons Stephen and Jason had taken on significant roles in managing the company, but Jones said Pappas remained involved because of his dedication to the people around him. He is survived by his wife, Dawne; Stephen and Jason, his sons; Dara, his daughter; and five grandchildren.