Pantelis "Pondo" Kosmas, a devoted family man, Portland Timbers supporter and owner of the Mad Greek Deli, died unexpectedly Sunday of a brain hemorrhage. He was 49.

On Monday, family and friends remembered Kosmas as a gregarious jokester, a larger-than-life Greek who loved ribbing his close friends and spoiling his five children in equal measure. By late Monday, bouquets left by those who knew Kosmas best surrounded the front doors of his East Burnside restaurant, a popular Timbers Army hangout.

Pondo, as Kosmas was known, grew up in Beaverton and attended Aloha High School, where he played sports and served as student body president. He had opportunities to play soccer after college, but chose not to pursue them, according to his brother, Chris Kosmas.

Pondo developed his love for the Portland Timbers as a boy, attending games during the NASL era with Chris and their father, Athanassios "Tom" Kosmas. He began working at the Mad Greek Deli at age 19, learning recipe secrets from his father and the restaurant's founder, George Athanasakis.

"At a certain point, I think in his mid 20s, Z100 radio used to talk about him being the most eligible bachelor in Portland," Chris said. "Not just once, either. It drove me nuts. They never said that about me."

Tom Kosmas retired nine years ago, passing along his ownership stake in the restaurant to Pondo.

"He was very proud of that fact that he used to be a model for Nike and Fred Meyer and that he had a six pack," said Lori Kosmas, Pondo's wife of eight years. "He had a short bit in the movie 'Prefontaine,' -- he would pull out this video when he had these six-pack abs and super-athletic body. We all had to watch it a million times."

"He was a good looking guy, I'll give him that," said Chris, who asked to be identified as Pondo's younger, "better-looking" brother. "In his later years, he plumped out a little bit, but he never lost his charm."

Lori met Pondo after "tripping through the Mad Greek Deli's front door," suggesting to a friend they order jojos and earning a quick correction from Pondo -- the Mad Greek Deli serves Greek fries, not jojos.

Despite the gruff introduction, Lori was smitten. She soon learned that Kosmas' first wife, Gina, had succumbed to breast cancer in 2004, and that Kosmas had fought for custody of her three children. Lori, who was going through a divorce, had two children of her own.

"He was an arrogant, egotistical Greek man who captured my heart that day," Lori said.

By then, the original Mad Green Deli on Northwest West Union Road had become a Washington County institution. But problems with the building forced Pondo to close the original location in 2015.

"A part of my husband's heart went with it," Lori Kosmas said.

Four years earlier, Pondo had purchased East Burnside's former Foti's Greek Deli from his uncle, transforming the restaurant into a second Mad Greek Deli. Soon, the rafters were strung with dozens of Portland Timbers scarves -- a playful competition Pondo kept going with Michael Lampros, a friend and owner of the baseball-cap-festooned Helvetia Tavern. The restaurant served as a Portland Timbers pub, a place fans could gather and know every game would be televised, with sound.

Last year, Pondo traveled with the Timbers faithful to Ohio, where he watched his beloved team defeat the Columbus Crew 2-1 and earn their first MLS Cup. It would be his final match.

According to Lori, Pondo fought increasingly serious health issues over the past month, including a nearly week-long hospitalization for pneumonia. Still, his death early Sunday came as a surprise.

"He said something to me on Saturday which I'll carry forever," Lori said. "We had driven down to Corvallis to see three of our kids. On the way back, he said to me, if I die tomorrow, I will have the fullest heart. I have the most incredible wife who loves me unconditionally. I have five of the most amazing children, who I'm incredibly proud of. I have the most amazing family and friends. If I don't have a dollar to my name, I'll still be the richest man, because my heart is full."

"And he left me the next day."

Pondo is survived by father Athanassios "Tom" Kosmas, mother Anne Kosmas, wife, Lori Kosmas and five children: Brooklyn Brusse, 23; Austin Brusse, 21; Nicholas Oswald, 21; Bailey Oswald, 20; and Payton Brusse, 19.

The public is invited to a Greek trisagion, or short prayer service, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 3131 N.E. Glisan St. in Portand. A Funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. Thursday, also at Holy Trinity.

-- Michael Russell