Greek-American Historical Museum of Washington State

Church

Greek Immigrant Meets Southern Belle
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George and Diane Pirotis
AHEPA Architecture Church Exhibits Greece Hobbies Immigrant Keeping Community Nationality Northern Greece Organizations Philoptochos Puget Sound Saint Nicholas Sports Tacoma Type of Work Washington State Western Washington

GREEK IMMIGRANT MEETS SOUTHERN BELLE George and Diane Pirotis’ son, Stavros, has enjoyed a mix of cultures and accents, from his father, a Greek …

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The Gentleman From Bellingham
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John J. Franks
Assumption Business Owner Church Exhibits First Generation Making a Living Nationality Seattle Type of Work Washington State Western Washington

THE GENTLEMAN FROM BELLINGHAM John J. Franks was born in Bellingham, Washington, on July 24, 1929, where he attended both high school and college. …

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Building a Greek House
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Philip and Seane Feredinos
Athens Cars Church Exhibits Greece Hobbies Immigrant Making a Living Military Nationality Puget Sound Restaurant Seattle Type of Work Washington State Western Washington

BUILDING A GREEK HOUSE Philip and Seane Feredinos tell their children that they love them from here to God and back again. They have …

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A Good Life in Cashmere
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Christos (Chris) Roumeliotis
Athens Church Diner Eastern Washington Exhibits Greece Immigrant Making a Living Military Nationality Restaurant Saint Demetrios Type of Work Washington State

A GOOD LIFE IN CASHMERE Christos (Chris) Roumeliotis was born in Athens, Greece, on December 17, 1925. His experiences in Greece during World War …

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Firm, Fair and Friendly
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AHEPA Central Greece Church Education Finance First Generation Greece Making a Living Organizations Washington State Western Washington

FIRM, FAIR AND FRIENDLY Louis Lallas’ first employer told him he would be successful in both life and business if he consistently followed the …

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Restaurants, Property and All That Jazz
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AHEPA Central Greece Church Exhibits First Generation Greece Hobbies Immigrant Making a Living Music Nationality Night Club Organizations Puget Sound Real Estate Restaurant Saint Demetrios Seattle Type of Work Washington State Western Washington

Gus Boutsinis and his brother John Dimitriou grew up in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood and have achieved success in the restaurant, property development and entertainment businesses.

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“It’s just part of who we are.”
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AHEPA Assumption Church Exhibits First Generation Greece Hobbies Information Technology Keeping Community Organizations Philoptochos Puget Sound Sales Seattle Sports Tacoma Turkey Type of Work Washington State Western Washington

Sisters Mary Lou Barton and Joanne Zarkades contribute innumerable hours to their church, not out of obligation but, just like their mother, it is just part of who they are.

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Working in a Floral Paradise
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Louie and Mary Malesis
AHEPA Business Owner Central Greece Church Exhibits Greece Immigrant Making a Living Nationality Organizations Puget Sound Real Estate Saint Demetrios Type of Work Washington State

Louie and Mary Malesis have made significant contributions to both the Renton and Seattle, Washington, communities. In 2015 their granddaughter Sophia Giakoumatos interviewed her grandfather and the results of that interview are presented here. Their story is supplemented with information in italics from a video interview with both Louie and Mary in 2017.

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Her Dad Liked Him
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AHEPA Church Exhibits Greece Making a Living Nationality Northern Greece Organizations Pizza Puget Sound Restaurant Saint Demetrios Seattle Type of Work Washington State Western Washington

When Demetrios Voltsis visited the family of his new friend in Seattle, Washington, the friend’s sister was not impressed. That impression has improved immensely over 50 years.

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“I’m your cousin! I’m your cousin!”
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Jim Kost
Church Exhibits Government Greece Hobbies Keeping Community Nationality Peloponese Puget Sound Saint Demetrios Seattle Second Generation Sports Type of Work Washington State Western Washington

Family in the Greek culture is very important. Frequently, families will “adopt” people to join them by calling them thea (aunt) or theo (uncle) either for respect, to acknowledge closeness or, to expand a small family. Friends who are godparents to children or sponsors for a married couple are called koumbari and are considered family. Whether at home in Seattle, Washington, or while visiting his ancestral homes in Greece, Jim Kost regularly hears this call from those he encounters.

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