Save the Date: On January 14, 2023, “Korais” Society Will Honor Stelios Tatsis!…

By Nick Stamatakis

Where to start writing about our good friend and associate in Helleniscope, Captain Stelios Tatsis!! It’s the most difficult task since the inception of this website… How can you close in words a lifetime of achievements that started 84 years ago on the beautiful island of Chios and continues to be highly productive in so many ways!… “Panchiaki Korais”, the Chian association, where Captain Tatsis contributed the most all his life, will honor him at Leonard’s of Great Neck, on Saturday, January 14, 2023…

In the weeks and months ahead, we will have the chance to make a full presentation about Stelios… His life story is a real snapshot of the life of the Greek-American community – and of the Greeks of Diaspora…. For now, we start with a brief biography in English and Greek:

He was born on February 9, 1938, in Flatsia of Chios and is the seventh child out of nine in the family. He was taught his first letters in the 6th Primary School. In 1951, he was admitted to the once-historic High School for Boys of Chios and graduated in 1956. Even before he graduated, he had decided to link his future to the sea, to become a captain. He embarked as a cadet Master, but a week before the ship sank, he took care of and repatriated. Since then, he served in the Chandris shipping company for the rest of his years at sea and in all ranks. He served a term in the Greek Royal Navy as an ensign for thirty months. In 1965 he married Despina-Nina Volti from Andros, and in 1968 they left for New York. His first job was in Olympic Airlines, and then he returned to his element in shipping, creating his own company, Alpha Marine, in May 1977, and already over 40 years. With Nina, he had two children, Irini and Michalis.
As a child, he liked to write in his spare time. Many of his articles have been published in expatriate, Chiacan and Athenian newspapers and magazines. In 2012 he published a booklet with the history of the family Church of the Holy Trinity in Lilika of Chios and in 2018 his pilgrimage to Mount Athos.

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Γεννήθηκε στις 9 Φεβρουαρίου του 1938 στα Φλάτσια της Χίου και είναι το έβδομο παιδί από τα εννέα της οικογένειας. Τα πρώτα του γράμματα τα διδάχθηκε στο 6ο Δημοτικό Σχολείο. Το 1951 εισήχθη στο πάλαι ποτέ ιστορικό Γυμνάσιον Αρρένων Χίου και αποφοίτησε το 1956. Πριν ακόμη αποφοιτήσει, είχε πάρει την απόφαση να συνδέσει το μέλλον του με τη θάλασσα, να γίνει καπετάνιος. Μπαρκάρισε ως δόκιμος Πλοίαρχος αλλά μια εβδομαδα πριν βουλιάξει το πλοίο, φρόντισε και επαναπατρίστηκε. Έκτοτε υπηρέτησε στην εταιρεία Χανδρή όλα τα υπόλοιπα χρόνια του στην θάλασσα και σε όλους τους βαθμούς. Υπηρέτησε την θητεία μου στο Βασιλικό Ναυτικό ως σημαιοφόρος για τριάντα μήνες. Το 1955 νυμφεύθηκε την Δέσποινα-Νίνα Βολτή από την Άνδρο και το 1968 έφυγαν για τη Νέα Υόρκη. Η πρώτη του εργασία ήταν στην Ολυμπιακή και στη συνεχεία επέστρεψε στο στοιχείο του στα ναυτιλιακά, δημιουργώντας την δική του επιχείρηση, την Αlpha Marine τον Μάιο του 1977, και ήδη ξεπέρασε τα 40 χρόνια. Με την Νίνα απέκτησε δύο παιδιά, την Ειρήνη και τον Μιχάλη.
Από παιδί του άρεσε να γράφει στον ελεύθερό του χρόνο. Πάρα πολλά άρθρα του έχουν δημοσιευθεί σε ομογενειακές, Χιακές και Αθηναϊκές εφημερίδες και περιοδικά. Το 2012 εξέδωσε ένα βιβλιαράκι με το ιστορικό του οικογενειακού Ναού της Αγίας Τριάδος στον Λιλικά της Χίου και το 2018 το οδοιπορικό του στο Άγιο Όρος.

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Panchiaki “Korais” Society, Inc.
43-15 202nd St. Bayside, NY 11361 • (718) 224-4846 • koraisny@verizon.net • koraisny.org
Founded in 1912

July 26, 2022
Re: Panchiaki Korais Society 2023 Dinner Dance Sponsorship

Dear Friends & Supporters,

On behalf of the Board of Directors we would like to invite you to the 111th Anniversary Dinner Dance of our Society which will take place on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at 7:00 pm, at Leonard’s Palazzo (555 Northern Boulevard, Great Neck, NY 11021).
Founded in 1912, Panchiaki Korais Society is known for its philanthropic work in the United States and Greece. In 1992, the Society was awarded by the Academy of Athens the distinction of Επαινος – Praise, for its decades of contributions in the fields of education, philanthropy, and civic events among the Diasporas. Supporting Greek Education has always been one of the organization’s main goals with substantial donations made to many of the Greek American schools in the New York City area over the years.

We ask you for your support, which is crucial to helping us continue the meaningful work of our educational and charitable organization in the Hellenic American community. Sponsorship in this, our single largest fundraising event of the year, would be greatly appreciated. The following levels are available:

Benefactor: $3000 Listing in Program, Maroon Page in Journal plus 10 tickets
Sponsor: $1500 Listing in Program, Maroon Page in Journal plus 2 tickets
Supporter: $1000 Listing in Program plus Maroon Page in Journal

There are also opportunities to support the dance by purchasing journal advertisements and raffle tickets.
For any information, please call our Administrative Assistant, Mrs. Elisavet Tzoumaka at (917) 209.3330.

You can also visit our website at www.koraisny.org.
On behalf of all members of the Panchiaki Korais Society, we would like to humbly thank you in advance for your support and participation and wish you great success in your business endeavors. We look forward to your reply.

Warm regards,

Peter Gerazounis                   Stelios Tatsis
President                              General Secretary

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Panchiaki “Korais” Society, Inc.
43-15 202nd St. Bayside, NY 11361 • (718) 224-4846 • koraisny@verizon.net • koraisny.org
Founded in 1912

July 25, 2022
Re: 2023 Commemorative Journal of the Panchiaki Korais Society

Dear Members and Friends,

At the last meeting of the Board of Directors held on July 5, 2022, I was surprised when the President of the Panchiaki Korais Society of New York, Peter Gerazounis, announced to me the decision of the Organization to award me an honorary distinction during the annual dinner dance that will take place at LEONARD’S PALAZZO OF GREAT NECK on Saturday January 14, 2023. An award for my various and long-term contributions to the Organization, to the Diaspora, to Hellenism, to Orthodoxy, to Humanity.

I struggled to answer, mixed feelings washed over me. My mind went to the one who is gone and will be absent from this family celebration, the one who was the personification of love and devotion to me and the whole family. I also thought that whatever I offered and continue to offer (there is also that offer which only God sees), I did it without being interested in any kind of reward; my reward was the strange feeling, which entered and filled my soul, a feeling that had the sweetest, most delicious taste.

Nevertheless, I accepted with the thought that I will be the raffle ticket that will collect a respectable amount for the causes it has served since its foundation, the super-centenarian (110 years) Panchiaki Korais whom I have served with love and devotion since 1969 and is the only Organization I belong to.

The photo you see is when I was 23 years old and my current one, which you will see when you come, has changed, but my spirit and my soul have remained unchanged, and I thank God for his blessing. They are unchangeable because I was built and nurtured by good parents and I was strengthened by the church, my teachers, and the experience of the long journey of life.

I am waiting for you all in the twilight of my life: Come and travel with me on the journey of a lifetime through the pages of the anniversary journal.
ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO OUR EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE PROGRAMS.

With Warm Regards,

Stelios Tatsis
General Secretary

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