Anastasios Bechas, 67, a retired bartender and drugstore cashier, died Nov. 7 of cancer at Virginia Hospital Center. He lived in
Arlington County.
Mr. Bechas, who was known as Tasos and sometimes Ernie, was born in Washington and graduated in 1958 from Coolidge
High School. He lettered in track in high school. He also attended the religious school at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral
in Washington.
He graduated from Montgomery College and attended American University before serving in the Navy during the early years of
the Vietnam War. He was a photographer onboard the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid.
After returning to Washington, Mr. Bechas worked at many restaurants and lounges in the city, including Talleyrand, Le Pigalle,
Clyde's, Charlie's and Pall Mall. From 1986 until retiring in 2001, he was the head night cashier at a People's drugstore (later
CVS) in the Lyon Village Shopping Center in Arlington.
From 1988 to 1994, he also worked as a clerk at ABC liquor stores in Northern Virginia
Mr. Bechas, who converted to Catholicism later in life, was a member of the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington.
Survivors include his wife of 19 years, Mary Kathryn Bechas of Arlington, and a sister, Helen Johnson of Annapolis.
-- Matt Schudel