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An Extraordinary Advenuture
Personal History Greeks of Washington Personal History Greeks of Washington

An Extraordinary Advenuture

In 1966, a feisty, handsome, young immigrant from Crete “took a chance” to come to America at the age of 29 in focused pursuit of his “love at first sight” whom he discovered a year earlier on a Mediterranean cruise.  Little did he know at the time that years later, in another country, he’d be a husband, father and rancher in charge of a 100-acre farmstead complete with livestock and hay.  Add to this energetic character a love of hunting and fishing with a passion for adding an extra heavy dose of unapologetic bold Greek identity throughout and you have the makings of an extraordinary life.  Bernie Iliakis has written the following story about that person, his father Michael.

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A Culinary Philosopher
Personal History Greeks of Washington Personal History Greeks of Washington

A Culinary Philosopher

Constantinos “Costas” Nikolaos Antonopoulos brought his skills as a pastry chef to Seattle, Washington, in 1968. From there he expanded his culinary skills and became a successful and respected restaurateur.

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Partners and Politics in Puyallup
Exhibit Greeks of Washington Exhibit Greeks of Washington

Partners and Politics in Puyallup

Despite their father’s admonitions, Basil and Jim Anton have spent over 40 years together in the restaurant and catering business. Their restaurants, Anton’s and Charlie’s, became centers of political, economic and community activity in Washington’s Puyallup valley.

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At Home On Land Or Sea
Greeks of Washington Greeks of Washington

At Home On Land Or Sea

Bill and Jeanne Kaimakis have shared many wonderful and challenging moments both in houses on land and on a 50-foot ocean-going vessel. Now settled in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood, they share stories of their Greek-American experiences.

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Float Like a Butterfly
Personal History Greeks of Washington Personal History Greeks of Washington

Float Like a Butterfly

The butterfly collection in Ethel Barbas’ home illustrates her joyful and optimistic visits with family and friends as she travels the roads in western Washington. Testimony to her travel is her 1997 Honda del Sol with over 350,000 miles. Born in Tacoma, Washington, Ethel (Anthe) Evans (Evangelou) has roots in Everett and Seattle as well.

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Come Fly With Me
Exhibit, Personal History Greeks of Washington Exhibit, Personal History Greeks of Washington

Come Fly With Me

Born in Washington State, Diana Aristides Bacas (nee Delimitros) has the best of three worlds and is equally at home in Madrid, Athens or Seattle.  She also believes that she is truly blessed to have lived in this particular timeframe of history, to have been born in Seattle, wanted and loved by her family and to have experienced an extraordinary and unique timeframe of aviation history.

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It Really Did Take A Village
Exhibit, Person Greeks of Washington Exhibit, Person Greeks of Washington

It Really Did Take A Village

 While the town of Manson, Washington, was reminiscent of her parents’ homes in Greece, hers was the only Greek family in the area.  For Diamando (Manda) Tagas Bekris, it really did take a village to raise a child.  It was from the influence and urging of non-Greek neighbors that she was able to learn about the world outside of her own family.

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