Todd Kaitis

“There is no substitute.” In the 1970s, Porsche began using this iconic line to promote its German road racers, grabbing the attention of car enthusiasts throughout the country. Todd James Kaitis was one of these gear heads. A 50-year member of the Porsche club, Todd spent much of his time pouring over Porsche magazines, dreaming of owning a fleet of German machines. In fact, Todd was close to realizing his dream of restoring a 1967 Porsche 911s when he unexpectedly passed away on November 23, 2024, surrounded by his wife, Beckey, and his step children.

Cars were not Todd’s only passion. On most weekends, you could find Todd cruising through the North Georgia mountains in search of a good glass of red wine, a treat that’s hard to come by in Appalachia. His search often landed him at local wineries where he not only picked up new bottles to add to his considerable wine collection, but where he used wit and sarcasm to make fast friends with folks from all walks of life.

Todd was also a dedicated traveler who surprised Beckey with numerous trips around the world. They enjoyed traveling internationally throughout Central America, Europe, and Africa, as well as countless trips to Napa and to Chicago, where Todd grew up.

Additionally, anyone who knew Todd knew how much he loved his dogs. Todd had a deep love for Irish Setters in particular and owned many of them throughout his life, all with Irish names, of course. He blended his love for setters and his passion for helping others by training his canine companions to serve as therapy dogs for those going through difficult times.

Todd will be remembered by his friends and family as a man who lived large and made everyone around him laugh. He is survived by Beckey, his loving wife, Luke, Leslie, and Ben, his step children, Kevin, his brother, and countless life long friends who joined him on his adventures near and far. His family encourages others to remember Todd by taking a drive with the top down, drinking a good glass of wine, booking a trip, or scratching a dog. Cheers to Todd - there is no substitute.