Greek-American Historical Museum of Washington State

Saint Demetrios

Greeks on the Street Wins Two Awards!
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Assumption Cars Church Exhibits First Generation Hobbies Keeping Community Nationality Puget Sound Saint Demetrios Seattle Second Generation Western Washington

GREEKS ON THE STREETS WINS TWO AWARDS For the ninth consecutive year, at Seattle’s premier Greenwood Car show, the Greeks on the Streets AHEPA …

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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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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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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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The Best Wealth is your Mind
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Sam Treperinas
Central Greece Church Exhibits Greece Immigrant Making a Living Nationality Puget Sound Railroad Saint Demetrios Seattle Type of Work Washington State Western Washington

Sam Treperinas has many stories to tell about his very successful 50-year career with the railroad and a busy retirement. For Sam and his wife Elly, the title of this exhibit is very appropriate for their experiences and success in life.

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A Badge of Honor to be Greek
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Kenny Dudunakis
Cars Church Crete Exhibits Finance Greece Hobbies Making a Living Nationality Puget Sound Real Estate Saint Demetrios Seattle Second Generation Sports Type of Work Washington State Western Washington

When Kenny Dudunakis was growing up in Pocatello, Idaho, being Greek was a badge of honor. He moved to Washington State in 1989 where he has developed his career in commercial real estate.

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Echi O Theos
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Maria Cooper
Central Greece Church Exhibits Greece Hobbies Homemaker Immigrant Making a Home Nationality Organizations Philoptochos Puget Sound Saint Demetrios Seattle Type of Work Washington State Western Washington

During World War II in Greece, Maria Cooper (nee Deligianni) was unable to pursue her schooling. Rather, as a teenager and the oldest of seven children, she was responsible for her younger siblings.

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All Below Main Street
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Dorothy Haskell
Church Exhibits Greece Keeping Community Medicine Nationality Organizations Peloponese Philoptochos Puget Sound Saint Demetrios Seattle Type of Work Washington State Western Washington

In the 1940s, McGill, Nevada, a small town in the eastern part of the state, was home for over 100 Greek families. Dorothy (Theodora) Haskell tells the story of growing up in McGill and eventually settling in Seattle, Washington.

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