Michael Cantonis was born on the Island of Symi, Dodecanese, Greece on May 25, 1915. After finishing high school and one year of college in Greece, he arrived in the United States through Ellis Island in 1934 when he then took courses in economics at the University of Tampa in Florida

  Following a serious operation at the end of 1935, his family was faced with economic difficulties; so he was forced to quit school and go to work to support his family.

  He worked for a sponge company until 1938 when he left Florida for New York. With $100,000 borrowed money from a friend, he established Acme Sponge & Chamois Co., Inc. In 1947, he moved the company to Chicago to be more centrally located, until 1977 when he again moved the company to Tarpon Springs, Florida, adjacent to its chamois manufacturing plant and natural sponge operation.

  In the meantime, he invested in commercial real estate, two new banks, marketable securities and two motels.

  His donations include an Endowment Fund to Hellenic College Holy Cross for a Chair of Hellenic Studies $1,250,000 as of February 1998. He donated approximately $300,000 to an Endowment Fund at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Department of Greek Studies. Among his other donations are: $200,000 to Berkeley Prep School, Tampa; $200,000 to the Tarpon Springs Library; close to $150,000 to the Tarpon Springs Municipal Hospital, and contributions to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, St. Andrew's Community, Chicago, St. Nicholas, Tarpon Springs totaling approximately $1,500,000.

  He established the Michael G. Cantonis Sanctuary Fund at St. Michael the Archangel, Lecanto, Florida, amounting to over $900,000 as of February 1998, for the specific purpose of building a new church. In addition, over $200,00 was donated for their new community center. Also, numerous donations have been made to the smaller churches, hospitals, schools, and art centers in the USA as well as his native island of Symi, Greece.

  Mr. Cantonis has received the following recognitions and honors: Officion (Award) of Archon Ieromnimon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate by the late Patriarch Demetrios; the Medal of the Holy Cross of the Crusaders of the Holy Sepulchre by the late Patriarch of Jerusalem, Venediktos; Gold Medal of the 50th Anniversary of the St. Andrews Community of Chicago where he served for 24 continuous years as Treasurer, Vice President, President and Chairman of the Board; Declaration as Great Benefactor and the award of the Key to the City of Tarpon Springs by Mayor and City Council; numerous other awards from the University of Florida, churches, hospitals, and foundations.

  Presently, Michael Cantonis is a member of the Archdiocesan Council of Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; a member of the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee of Hellenic College, Holy Cross; a member of the corporate Board of Hellenic College Cross; a member of President's Council, University of Florida, Gainesville.

  He is married to Anastasia Harras and has three children, George, James, and Cynthia. He also has six grandchildren.

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