Athanasios “Thanasi” Tsivgas passed away on Thursday, March 12, 2026. He was 27 years old.

Born in New York City on May 12, 1998, Thanasi was raised in Green Brook, New Jersey, and in recent years lived in Raritan and Branchburg. He grew up in a loving home, raised by his parents and grandmother, and carried those close family bonds with him throughout his life. Though private by nature, he cared deeply for those closest to him and shared an especially strong connection with his twin sister, Seva. 

Thanasi was a 2016 graduate of Watchung Hills Regional High School. He later went on to study computer science at Raritan Valley Community College, then Rutgers University in New Brunswick. Bright, curious, and determined, he developed a passion for programming at a young age, teaching himself multiple coding languages in middle school. He went on to build a career as a software developer, working both independently and alongside his father.

In his younger years, Thanasi was highly active and enjoyed baseball, roller hockey, and ice hockey, serving as a goalie for the Watchung Hills Regional High School ice hockey team, a role that reflected both his focus and dedication. As his interests evolved, he brought that same intensity and ambition to gaming and computer programming, where he found both enjoyment and purpose. He was an exceptional gamer, achieving multiple global rankings, and found joy not only in playing but in teaching others, whether helping them improve in games, learn to build systems, or develop code.  

Thanasi will be remembered for his humor, his kindness, and his strong sense of values. He had a deep curiosity about the world around him, a love for music and animals, and a generosity in sharing his passions and knowledge with others. 

Above all, Thanasi valued friendship. Though he was often quiet, his care and loyalty to his friends ran deep. He will be remembered for his thoughtfulness, his integrity, and the meaningful connections he built with those around him.  The love he had for his friends was clear, and his presence will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Thanasi is survived by his loving mother, Nora; his father, Tom; his twin sister, Seva; his uncle, James Tice, Jr.; his godparents, Steve and Mary Kalcanides; and many loving cousins and cherished friends.

A memorial gathering will be held on Sunday, March 22, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung, New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Thanasi’s memory to the Healthy Gamer Foundation at this fundraiser: (https://streamlabscharity.com/@seva-tsivgas/in-memory-of-thanasi-tsivgas)  or to National Geographic in honor of his deep curiosity about the world, passion for learning, and love of wildlife.