Greeks in Washington Stories - Greek-American Louis Lallas
GREEKS IN WASHINGTON - read the following excerpt from article
"Firm, Fair and Friendly"
Louis Lallas’ first employer told him he would be successful in both life and business if he consistently followed the three “fs”. These three words – firm, fair and friendly – have guided him throughout a successful career in education and life in general.
Louie Tom (Thanasi) Lallas was born about three blocks from his present home in Bellingham, Washington, on February 11, 1932. His name should have been Louka after his papou (grandfather) Loukas; however, when baptized, he was named Louis and only later was he more commonly referred to as Louie. It is interesting to note that in Greece the Lallas name was spelled Lalas – with only one “l”; the second “l” was added to the Lalas name at Ellis Island by the immigration authorities.
LOUIE’S FAMILY
Louie’s maternal grandparents Louis (Lukas) and Stella “Stravroula” Raptis immigrated to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, about 1908. Louie’s mother, Eleni (pronounced E-le-nee) Raptis was born in a small village outside of Livthia named Bramaga but now named Therion. When the family immigrated to Canada, Eleni was eight years old. She was able to attend public schools through grade four which accounts for her early knowledge of the English language.
Louie is disappointed that he has no in-depth knowledge of his paternal grandparents.
Louie’s father Efstathios was also known as Tom even though he had a brother named Tom – this is a mystery still unsolved. Tom was born in Gravia, Greece, near Delphi (think Oracle) and came to the United States at a very early age, maybe 17 or 18 at the oldest. He was employed at the Bloedel Donovan Lumber Mills where he worked hard and was ultimately promoted to a significant production lead position. Unfortunately, Tom died at the age of 42 in 1935 when Louie was just two years old and his mother was only 32.
Nine years later Eleni married Peter Damascus. Louie was 11 years old at the time. Another mystery yet unsolved is that Louie did not attend the wedding, but his older brother and sister did attend the wedding. Louie only remembers that when everyone came home they would all have a “dad.” Peter Damascus was the only father that Louie ever knew and always has thought of his dad Peter Damascus as a really great dad and a kind and gentle person.
Peter was an exceptional still-life artist. His paintings hang prominently in the Lallas home. Known affectionately as “professor,” he was the first in his family to receive advanced schooling. He attended the prestigious Chicago Art Institute where he was noted for having great potential and skill. Although his true passion was painting realistic portraits, he became a self-employed business person earning his living as a sign painter. Some of his work remains even today in older buildings around Bellingham. It was a great loss to the family and Greek community when he died in 1958 just as he was ready to retire at the age of 65. “Professor’s” nephew, Nick Damascus, is also an artist who taught art at Seattle University and painted many of the Icons at Seattle’s St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church.
READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE, VIEW PHOTOGRAPHS, AND WATCH EXCERPTS FROM THE ORIGINAL INTERVIEW
Video interview by John and Joann Nicon with Louie Lallas: GREEKS OF BELLINGHAM AND THEIR CHRISTIAN FRIENDS, by Stephen Margaritis, 1993
Comments
Post a Comment