Ocean City community honors and remembers Steve Pappas, the longtime owner of The Original Greene Turtle

OCEAN CITY, Md. – Steve Pappas was best known as the long-time owner of the Original Greene Turtle in Ocean City. But his friends and family, and many members of the community, remember him as a generous man, with a larger than life personality.

Fellow Ocean City businessman Brad Hoffman called Pappas an inspiration.

“I felt like he showed other people how to give, but he did it in so many ways.” Said Hoffman. “Whether it’s through the sports community, whether it’s through non-profits, whether it was through creating the amazing location: The Greene Turtle, he was just a people person with a huge heart, and he was a big guy, but I think his heart was even bigger.”

Pappas passed away on October 28th, 2026, after a battle with cancer.

His son, Steven Pappas, remembers his father as a man who made Ocean City feel like home, to whoever crossed his path.

“Whoever you were, wherever you were from, your friends, your family, and that’s how he’s done it with employees, customers, random people walking down the street, other business owners.” Said Pappas. “I mean, growing up, it was one of those things that wherever we went, when we go out, someone was coming up saying, you know, ‘thank you Steve. Hey, how are you? How’s the family?’ Everywhere we went, he was like a local celebrity.”

Denny Ferry started working at The Greene Turtle when he was only 18, where he then met Pappas, who quickly became his mentor.

“He was kind of my Dad away from my Dad and basically kind of steered me the right way.” Said Ferry. “And, you know, basically everything I have down here is due to him and The Greene Turtle. So I don’t have any qualms or anything. He basically made my life down here.”

Jean Taylor has worked as a bartender at the Original Greene Turtle for 31 years, and knows that the family that Pappas formed, will continue to be there for each other.

“The staff and his children, of course, are such an extension of his legacy that we’re all going to bond together and get through it together and and just honor him.” Said Taylor.

The Ocean City community emphasized that Pappas legacy and memory will forever remain.