Greek-American Historical Museum of Washington State

Nationality

An Ever-Present Greek Eccentric
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Exhibits First Generation Greece Making a Home Nationality Puget Sound Seattle Washington State Western Washington

AN EVER-PRESENT GREEK ECCENTRIC George Beaman Kotolaris (1929-1990) was a notable figure in Seattle, Washington. He was known to attend almost every Greek social …

A Good Life in Cashmere
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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 …

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 …

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.

Mountain Boy Meets City Girl
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Cars Exhibits Greece Hobbies Immigrant Making a Living Medicine Nationality Northern Greece Puget Sound Seattle Type of Work Washington State Western Washington

Alexandros “Alecos” Constantinou Kralios was born on January 30, 1937, in Komotini, two and one-half hours east of Thessaloniki in north eastern Greece. Fani Niki Andreou Papadimitriou was born in the city of Athens on May 24, 1939. They share their experiences as research physicians in Greece and after almost 50 years in the United States.

“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.

Working in a Floral Paradise
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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.

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.

“I’m your cousin! I’m your cousin!”
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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.

From the Heart of Greece
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AHEPA Assumption Central Greece Church Everett Exhibits Finance First Generation Greece Keeping Community Nationality Organizations Puget Sound Real Estate Seattle Type of Work Washington State Western Washington

As Tommy Rakus’ family came from Roumeli, tin carthia tis Elathas (the heart of Greece), his passion for all things Greek originates not from the food, the dancing or the language but from his heart.