John Pantages, passed away peacefully on December20, 2022. He was 92 years young. John was born in Brooklyn, New York.  His family consisted of his father Demitrious and his mother Aristea, and 10 brothers and sisters which includes his much loved twin brother, Teddy.  In his late teen years, it was the bright lights across the Brooklyn Bridge that attracted him, and soon he was off to Manhattan which led to stints in off Broadway theatre productions, dance performances, all the while studying to be a master hairdresser.

It was an offer from a headhunter in the early 1960's that brought him to Philadelphia, to work with an elite clientele doing hair and wigs. He soon made our town his home and we have been the better for that ever since.  John was drawn to anything beautiful and thrived on being creative.  This led him to his lifelong passion of buying and selling antiques and collectables, working each spring in his beloved center city garden, throwing fabulous dinner and costume parties which earned him the appellation of "The Outrageous Pantages."  John enjoyed a long and loving relationship with his forever companion, Bob Rasmussen, who did marry when it finally became legal in Philadelphia.

The most wonderful thing about John was that he never met a stranger.  Always kind, always caring, and always willing to extend a helping hand if he could.

John is survived by many loving nieces and nephews from New York and New Jersey, along with his beloved Philadelphia friends who will be lost without him.

A memorial service will be held for John.  In the Spring.  In a garden filled with flowers and music. Surrounded by all of the people he loved.  Just the way he would have wanted it.  Rest in Peace.