Mike Gerasimos Gianoutsos was born into a family in the painting business and it suited him just fine. After spending his childhood helping out, he would make a career leading the company as it took on such jobs as painting the Liberty Bridge, Kaufmann's stores, area hospitals, regional malls, schools, pools and even steel mills.

"He loved what he did," said his daughter, Barbara L. Ausman, who believed her father lived the American dream of working hard to achieve success.

Mr. Gianoutsos, who spent much of his retirement in Florida, died of acute lymphoma Friday at the McMurray Hills Manor Care facility. He was 86.

Born in Oakland around the same time his father and two uncles were starting Gianoutsos Brothers Painting Co., he graduated from Fifth Avenue High not long before World War II started.

He enlisted in 1942 and served on the USS St. Louis, which was involved in numerous naval engagements. He was assigned to man anti-aircraft guns and later served as a third-class carpenters mate.

Years afterward, his family worked with then-U.S. Rep. Porter Goss' office to track down long-missing service records, Mrs. Ausman said. He collected a number of honors including a Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Navy Good Conduct Medal and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one Silver Star and two Bronze Stars.

"It just meant everything to him," she said. When the family took him to see the new World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., a couple of years ago, he wore his USS St. Louis hat and ended up drawing a crowd of people interested in him and his memorabilia book.

Meanwhile, during his years as president of the family painting business and Coatings Unlimited of Dormont, he was skilled at bidding on projects and making sure work got done on time, according to his daughter. He had a knack for developing tools and systems to speed the process of painting or applying other coverings. Another useful characteristic for the job, she said, "he had no fear of heights."

He didn't, however, have much tolerance for workers who weren't productive and he left any public relations efforts to his brother, Nicholas, Mrs. Ausman said with a laugh.

After retiring at 65, he moved to Port Charlotte, Fla., where he became a member and fleet captain of the local yacht club.

In addition to his daughter Mrs. Ausman of McMurray, Mr. Gianoutsos is survived by two sisters, Yotta Cominos of Mt. Lebanon and Mary Masterson of Greensburg; one son, James of South Park; a granddaughter; and three grandsons.

Visitation will be at 10 a.m. today at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church on Gilkeson Road in Mt. Lebanon, followed by a service at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Jefferson Memorial Park.