Gus Kalaris, known as the 'Ice Ball Man' on Pittsburgh's North Side, dies

August “Gus” Kalaris often gave free ice balls to people who couldn’t afford one — he was known as the “Ice Ball Man.”

He will be missed from his spot at the bright orange cart near West Park on Pittsburgh’s North Side.

Kalaris died Friday night.

For seven decades, Kalaris manned the ice ball stand under the familiar rainbow-colored umbrella. From spring until fall, he was there unless there was inclement weather — below 50 degrees, snowing or raining hard.

He knew many customers by name in addition to their favorite ice ball flavor.

Kalaris was proficient at scraping 50-pound blocks of ice to make the flavored ice balls. He often said how much he loved seeing everyone, especially the children. Generations of families stopped year after year.

The city offered condolences on Saturday.

Pittsburgh has lost a local legend. For decades Gus Kalaris served up ice balls, popcorn, and smiles at the world renowned Gus & YiaYia’s Cart on the city’s North Side. Join us in sending support and condolences to his family and loved ones as they grieve this loss. pic.twitter.com/AaCaFHkQ8l

— City of Pittsburgh (@Pittsburgh) June 29, 2024

The cart was on site Saturday because his family decided to make ice balls in his honor.

“He had a good run,” said his daughter, Christina Avlon, who was at the cart because she said manager Mike Spanos told her “this is what Gus would want us to do.”

Her dad, who turned 92 in January, had been slowing down the past few months, Avlon said. He was at the cart on opening day in April and a few times since then.

“He loved talking to everyone,” Avlon said. “He loved Pittsburgh so much. He loved the North Side.”

“It has been hard being here today but I know my dad loved being here on the North Side,” Avlon said. “Everyone who has stopped by has been gracious. Everyone loved Gus.”

Kalaris took over the business in 1951 from his father, George, who started it in 1934. “Yiayia,” the Greek word for grandmother, first referred to Gus’ mother, Pauline, and then his wife, Stella Bistolas, who died in 2016.

He created a scholarship to honor his late wife.

Over the years, there have been six carts. Kalaris built four of them; his dad built two. The most recent one, an Amish cart, is made of hard rock maple.

Kalaris, who lived in Brighton Heights, woke up early to make the flavors, a mix of simple syrup with food coloring and extract.

Three items have always been on the menu: flavored ice balls, peanuts and popcorn. Those are the same products his father sold.

Kalaris’ parents would bring him to West Park as a baby. He slept in a blanket on one of the benches. He was 8 years old when he first helped.

Kalaris said his dad charged 3 cents for an ice ball so he could compete with Isaly’s.

For 25 years, Kalaris had a winter job with a boiler company.

He survived kidney cancer in 1998 and a quadruple heart bypass in 1999. He also had a knee replacement.

His wife, their children and their grandchildren have worked with him.

Celebrities such as Vanna White of “Wheel of Fortune” and singers Tony Bennett and Vic Damone are among those who have stopped by over the years.

The late Dan Rooney was a regular. People would ask Rooney for his autograph. Kalaris would hand Rooney a popcorn box and a Sharpie.

In November 2021, the Carnegie Science Center, now the Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin Science Center, debuted its newest model, Gus & Yiayia’s ice ball stand, at the Miniature Railroad & Village. The tiny replica model was made to celebrate the family-owned business.

At the time, Kalaris said: “This is so exciting. It’s like winning the Super Bowl and being handed the (Vince) Lombardi Trophy or winning an Academy Award.

“Who honors a street vendor? Usually people cuss at street vendors.”

In addition to his parents and wife, Kalaris was preceded in death by his brother James G. Kalaris.

Kalaris is survived by his daughter Christina Avlon and her husband Art, daughter Penny and her husband Peter Pefanis, and grandchildren Emily Pefanis (fiancé, Ryan Field), James (Alexandra) Pefanis, Annie Larimer, and Katherine (Thomas) Callahan, as well as his great-grandchildren Joseph and Nora Callahan.

He is also survived by his step-grandchildren, Elena (Andy) Jones, Stephanie (Jim) Foltz, and step-great-grandchildren Anna and Jack Foltz and Matthew Szymanowski.

Friends will be received at the Calvary United Methodist Church, 971 Beech Ave., North Side from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. A Trisagion Prayer Service, which is part of a Greek funeral service, will be conducted at 6 p.m.

The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in McCandless. Everyone please meet at church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Kalaris’ memory to Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy (in support of Allegheny Commons Park), 317 East Carson St., West Tower, Suite 230, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219, online at pittsburghparks.org, or PHILOPTOCHOS - Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 985 Providence Blvd., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15237, Attn: Mary Ann Stearns.

Arrangements entrusted to the care of the Rex T. Smith Funeral Home, North Side