A man known for his pancakes and larger than life personality has died.

The owner of Chip's Family Restaurant George Chatzopoulos died from brain cancer Monday.

Dina Bajko spoke fondly of her brother and says they were very close.

"He took his last peaceful breath in my arms, and it was actually the most beautiful thing I've experienced," said Bajko.

She worked with him at Chips and took care of him at her home for the last year.

"So full of life, his big smile, his energy. And he would always say to me, 'You know, you got this. It will be OK. You got this. You can do it,'" said Bajko.

"What I loved about George is he always cared about others," said Scott Dolch, of the Connecticut Restaurant Association.

People in the restaurant industry remember George's work in the community helping others after coming from a humble beginning.

"He was the American dream. He came over here from Greece in 1988 with literally barely two pennies to rub together but he always has a passion for this industry," said Dolch.

Chatzopoulos worked in several restaurants before buying Chips in Orange in 2003. He later opened several other Chips restaurants and was proud of his Greek heritage.

Chatzopoulos was 55.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church in Orange.