Greek-American Historical Museum of Washington State

Puget Sound

Greek Immigrant Meets Southern Belle
,

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 …

Read More, View Photos and Video
The Gentleman From Bellingham
,

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. …

Read More, View Photos and Video
Building a Greek House
,

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 …

Read More, View Photos and Video
An Ever-Present Greek Eccentric
,

George Beaman Kotolaris
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 …

Read More, View Photos and Video
We Like the Old Stuff Better
,

Exhibits Hobbies Keeping Community Military Music Music Puget Sound Seattle Type of Work Washington State Western Washington

They may not be Greek but, wherever live Greek music is played in Washington State, Hank Bradley and Cathie Whitesides will most likely be part of the group.

Read More, View Photos and Video
Restaurants, Property and All That Jazz
,

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.

Read More, View Photos and Video
Mountain Boy Meets City Girl
,

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.

Read More, View Photos and Video
“It’s just part of who we are.”
,

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.

Read More, View Photos and Video
Working in a Floral Paradise
,

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.

Read More, View Photos and Video
Her Dad Liked Him
,

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.

Read More, View Photos and Video