At 90, ‘The Greek God’ still playing tennis six days a week in Boynton Beach

The Boynton Beach Tennis Center recently hosted a birthday celebration for 90-year-old Tasso Koussis, a beloved tennis enthusiast who heads to the court to participate in doubles for three days each week at the facility.

Koussis, who is known as “The Greek God,” has been on the courts at the Boynton Beach Tennis Center since 2009.

“I do not feel 90 and it’s just a number,” he said. “I have been blessed in many ways.”

The birthday celebration included a morning session of tennis followed by lunch and music. Koussis participates in doubles games at the Boynton Beach Tennis Center on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. The sessions run from 8 to 10 a.m. and 10 a.m. to noon.

Bobby Borden organizes the morning doubles games at the facility, 3111 S. Congress Ave. Borden said they have been able to attract more than 50 players during the winter. He said the tennis participants have been inspired by Koussis.

“We are all just amazed that he is a 90-year-old and runs all over the court,” Borden said. “Tasso is a baseline player and he will go back and chase down every ball that is hit past his partner. He is unbelievable. We all want to be like Tasso and be playing tennis like him when we get to be his age.”

Koussis grew up in Lavrion, Greece, a small town and fishing village before becoming a major port. He was in Greece during the German occupation in World War II and also during the Greek Civil War, which consisted of a communist-dominated uprising.

Koussis, who went into hiding with his family during the German occupation in Greece, said his family had to deal with starvation. He noted a German truck picked up bread each week from their local bakery. He took turns with other children climbing on the back of trucks in an attempt to throw loaves of bread off the trucks to steal food. He recalled being spotted, chased down an alley and needed to avoid being captured.

“We went through a lot of misery,” he said. “We were hungry and I saw a lot of people dying because of starvation. It was a real mess.”

His father was a dentist and his brother attended dental school in Greece. He was inspired to follow in his family’s footsteps for his career path. At 20, Koussis attended Columbia University in New York for three years. He attended the University of Pennsylvania to receive his dental education. He opened a dental practice in the outskirts of Philadelphia. He sold his practice in 2000 and relocated to Deerfield Beach. Koussis, who said he cherished relationships with his patients, traveled to Pennsylvania for one week each month for the next 15 years to continue his work in the dental group practice.

Koussis, who has lived in Boynton Beach since 2009, said he appreciates the support of his wife Juanita as well as his family, which includes his children and grandchildren. He has served as a volunteer dentist at Caridad Center in Boynton Beach since 2017.

“The people there need help and a lot of dental work,” he said. “There is a great need for volunteers in the medical profession. I want to continue to volunteer there as long as I can.”

Koussis grew up playing soccer in Greece. During the German occupation, he would tear up rags and tie them up together to make a soccer ball and play on the dirt fields. He played indoor and outdoor soccer in Pennsylvania and participated in two leagues until the age of 64.

He also plays pickleball and participates in three different tennis leagues: Palm Beach County Senior Tennis League, Palm Beach Open Tennis League and Grand Slam Tennis League.

“I play tennis six days each week and it’s a great time,” he said. “I feel great and it’s a lot of fun.”