The first person from Eleftheriani to set foot in the USA was Epaminontas Arvanitis in 1895.  Although Nontas, as he was known, did not end up settling here permanently, choosing to return to Greece, he did help pave the road for so many that would follow.  Following is a list of Leftheriani who contributed much to our societies.

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Kostas Zaimis was born in Eleftheriani to Sotirios and Vasiliki Zaimis.  He was the first person from Eleftheriani to permanently settle in the USA when he arrived in 1903.  He settled in the New York area, married and raised a son, George, who in turn had 3 children.  Kosta was a founding member of the Eleftheriani Brotherhood when it was established in Dover, NJ in 1917.  He never forgot his Village and donated significant funds to help his fellow Leftheriani back home.  When the Society was reformed in 1959, "Charlie", as he became known, was an active member and was present at many meetings until he passed away.

 

 

Demetrios Siamas was born in Eleftheriani in 1887.  The son of Kostas Siamas and Dialeta Pantelopoulos, he emigrated to the USA in 1908 and would never return to his homeland, choosing to live an American life.  James, as he became known, started a flower business in 1911, which laid the foundation for the many Leftheriani that would eventually migrate and flourish in the flower industry in New York.  He never forgot his family and Village back home, he donated a significant amount of money, a good portion which his brother, Theodoros, used to open a well-known general store in the Village.  He planned on going home but fell ill and died in 1948.

 

 

Kostas Pappas was born in 1889 in Eleftheriani to Evangelos Panagiotopoulos and Demetra Siamas.  He is one of the two most influential Leftheriani to have an impact on both sides of the Atlantic.  In addition to donating a good amount of money to help his village, he opened the famous Embassy Flower Shop in NYC in the early 1920’s.  the Embassy would eventually employ many future immigrants from Eleftheriani.  He and his wife Maria Pittas were the first from the Village to emigrate with their entire family in 1929.  His importance to the Society was profound.  He eventually settled on a beautiful estate in Monroe, NY at which he hosted several picnics for his friends, relatives and fellow Leftheriani up until his death in 1983.

 

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Chris Kourmusis was born in Eleftheriani in 1895 to Andrea Kouroumousis and Eleni Siamas.  He came to the USA at an early age in 1911 and became a vital member in the establishment of the Society in 1917.  Along with Kosta Pappas, he was a very influential and important member of our Society and had an impact both here and back home.  He, too, opened up a flower shop that would employ many future new- comers from the Village.  They, in turn, opened their own shops.  He married his amazing wife, Sofia, who despite being of German and Czech background, was just as devoted to her husband's love and affection for his Village.  It was this love and devotion that Chris took back with him to Eleftheriani when he donated funds and built the most well-known privately funded landmark in Eleftheriani today, the Fountain at Porarostalo.  To this day, all visitors to the Village stop and enjoy cold spring water which is constantly flowing.  Chris passed away in 1961.

 

 

Nikos Papadopoulos was born in Eleftheriani in 1893 to Vasili Papadopoulos and Marianthi Panagiotopoulos.  He first emigrated to NY and was a key member of the first Society in 1917.  He co-authored the first minutes of the Society and was partly responsible for the correspondence between NY and Eleftheriani.  Like the others, he sent a good amount of money back home.  Eventually he would settle in Indianapolis, Indiana along with his wife Zoe Siamas, where he raised a large family of 6 children and many grandchildren.  Niko passed away in 1976.

 

 

Lambros Pexos was born in Eleftheriani in 1886 to Gregory Pexos and Spiridoula Thomopoulos.  He reached the USA in 1911 through Ellis Island and would settle in the New York area.  He was eventually joined by his brother Thomas, who ended up returning to Greece and then returning again to the USA to resettle in NY as well.  Lambros eventually married Rosa, but had no children.  Along with Nikos Papadopoulos, he co- authored the first minutes of the Society.  As a founding member, he was partly responsible for correspondence between NY and Eleftheriani.

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Taxiarhis Seretis was born in Eleftheriani in 1897.  His parents were Kosta and Spiridoula Seretis.  His  brothers and sisters were Efthimios, Nickos, Haralambos and Diamantis, Katerina, Panagiota and Vasilou.   He came to America by boat when he was 16 years old.  He worked in restaurants in Asbury Park, NJ and then Dover, NJ.  After living in America for a few years, he traveled back to Greece and was drafted into the Greek army.  He was captured by the Turkish army and was a prisoner of war for two years.  He then escaped and returned to America.  After a few more years, he returned back to Greece and married Maria Siamas about 1927.   His son Fotios was born in 1928.  Taxiarhis returned to America and sent money back to Greece for his family.  After several years he returned to Greece and Spiridoula was born in 1934.  He went back to America and then lost complete contact with his family for several years during World War II.  No one knew if Taxiarhis was still alive or not.  During these difficult years, his wife Maria died of pneumonia around 1943.  Spiridoula met her father for the first time in 1952 when she arrived in America.  Fotios, came to America in 1956 after he finished serving in the Greek military.  Taxiarhis Seretis died in 1972 and was buried Dover, NJ. 

  

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James K. Pappas was born in Eleftheriani in 1920.  He was the son Kostas Pappas and Maria Pittas and emigrated to the USA with his parents and siblings, Helen and Xenophon, in 1929.  He served in the military and married the love of his life, the wonderful Georgia Vlantis.  In 1959, he helped found the second incarnation of our Society and became the first President of the newly established Benevolent Society of Eleftheriani USA and Canada, a position he held for the Society's first 8 years.  He continued to be a most influential member of the Society, always contributing, always ever present, and many times with Georgia by his side.  He regularly took part in Society meetings until passing away in 2003.

    

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Van F. Pappas was born in Eleftheriani in 1926 to Fotios Panagiotopoulos and Katerina Nikolopoulos.  He emigrated to the USA in 1947 with his family, including his siblings Kosta and Demetra, and eventually settled in Bayside, NY.  Bayside  became home to the Society's largest concentration of Lefteriani.  He married Kassiani in 1959 and together they raised their children, Katie and Fotios, better known as Frankie.  Arguably the most important person in our Society's history, Van never became president by choice, instead he held the position of Secretary for many years.  His influence was unparalleled as he was responsible for many societal endeavors.  These included spearheading our three most important events: the Society's re-establishment in 1959, the purchase of our Society's building and clubhouse in 1979, and the establishment of The Society's Scholarship Fund in the late 1980’s.  He was also instrumental in the planning of our Millennial Dinner/Dance held on December 31, 1999.  Unfortunately, Van passed away early one Spring Sunday morning in 1998 before being able to see the event.  Our Society's top scholarship bares his name to commemorate his influence dedication, and love for his Village and Society.   

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Harilaos Papyianis was born in Eleftheriani in 1929 as Harilaos Barbagiannis.  He was son of Efthimios and Fotini Barbagiannis.  He had one brother and four sisters, Koula, George, Gianoula, Poloxeni and Dimitra.  He left Eleftheriani when he was a young teenager.  For several years he drifted and took any job he could find just to survive.   He finished high school and then entered the Greek Navy.   Harilaos finally arrived in America in 1956.  He worked for his uncle, Kostas Panayiotopoulos, at the Embassy Florist in NYC.  In 1959, he opened his own flower shop, Harris Florist also in NYC.  He married Spiridoula Seretis in December 1959.  They had three children: Efthimios in 1962, Taxiarhis in 1964 and Fotios in 1971.  Harilaos was an entrepreneur and made Harris Florist a very successful business.  Harilaos was a vital member of the second society in 1959 and he held every position except for president having been VP, Secretary and Treasurer.  He expanded his business by adding the Dover Greenhouses about 1969.  In the 70’s Harilaos began having health problems and tried to retire.  He tried living summers in Greece and winters in the US but his entrepreneurial spirit made him very restless.  He eventually went back into the flower business at the Manhattan Towers Florist.  Harilaos passed away in 1989 in Greece and was buried in Eleftheriani.

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George Siamas was born in Eleftheriani in 1933 to Theodoros Siamas and Vasiliki Arvanitis.  The youngest of 13, he was intelligent and head strong.  He followed his future wife Polixeni Adamopoulos and emigrated to Montreal, Canada in 1956. He helped pave the way for the many Leftheriani that would eventually settle in this city.  When the Society reformed in 1959, Montreal played a vital role, and George was leading the way.  George was instrumental in organizing events between NY and Montreal and served several officer's positions, most notably he was a three-time Vice President.  A Village scholar and historian, George has done extensive research for 30 years on the families and history of the Village and authored a book on the subject.  He still enjoys splitting his time between Montreal and Greece.

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Xenophon Nikolopoulos was born in Eleftheriani in 1939 to Iraklis Nikolopoulos and Katerina Pittas.  He is the eldest of 9 siblings.  He married Vasiliki Barbayannis and made his way to Canada.  He first stopped in Winnipeg and eventually settled in Montreal in 1963.  Once there, he would invite the rest of his family to Canada and raised 5 children and many grandchildren.  Xenophon is one of the most important Leftheriani in Montreal along with his friend George Siamas.  Xenophon played an important role in the early days of the Society during the 1960’s, taking on several officer's positions.  He has been a key member of the Roumeliotes Society and helped establish an offshoot of the Eleftheriani Society there in 1980.  Xenophon has been representing the Montreal faction of our Society, although unofficially, in NY and in Eleftheriani for the better part of the last 5 decades.  It's safe to say that in Montreal, Xenophon was and is to this day, the Society.