| IN MEMORIUM May Their Memory Live Forever May 28, 2010 Demetrios "Jimmy" Tampasis Published in Knoxville News Sentinel from May 31 to June 1, 2010
May10,2010 Alexander Varlan  VARLAN, ALEXANDER - age 90, passed away peacefully on May 10, 2010. Preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Constance Balitsis Varlan; parents, Thomas and Jean Varlan; siblings Mary Bouras, Nick and Peter Varlan, all of Rochester, N.Y. He is survived by all of his children and beloved grandchildren: daughter and son-in-law Jennifer and Don Holloway of Adairsville, GA, Nicole and Peter; daughter Joan Varlan of Atlanta, GA; son and daughter-in-law Tom and Danni Varlan, Georgia, Susanna, Alex and Paul; daughter Gigi Varlan of Grand Rapids, MI, Peter, James and Katherine; son and daughter-in-law Jim and Allison Varlan; and by sister, Sue Varlan of Rochester, NY and numerous nieces and nephews. Alex was born in Rochester, N.Y. and graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in chemical engineering. He worked for his entire career at Union Carbide, later Martin Marietta, in Oak Ridge, TN, primarily at the Y-12 plant. He was a faithful member of St. George Greek Orthodox Church where he was instrumental in establishing the church at its current Kingston Pike location. He served many years as a member and as president of Parish Council, organizer and chair of the original Greek Night, and Greekfest Finance Chairman. He was awarded The Medal of Saint Paul Archdiocese Laity Award by the national Greek Orthodox Archdiocese for his many years of service and dedication to his church and faith. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed many hours on the golf course (including three holes-in-one) at Deane Hill Country Club and, later in life, playing cards at the Elks Club. The family will receive friends on Friday, May 14 at Highland Memorial from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with Trisagion service to follow. The funeral will be at St. George Greek Orthodox Church on Saturday, May 15 at 11:00 o'clock a.m. with Father John Kostas officiating, followed by burial at Highland Memorial. Pallbearers will be David Changas, Brian Hester, Dr. Dean Kleto, John Kotsianas, Chris Paris, Dr. Walton Smith, Jim Vavalides and Phillip Vavalides. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to AHEPA Chapter 346-Senior Housing Fund or St. George Greek Orthodox Church Memorial Fund, both at 4070 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Online condolences may be offered at www.highlandmemorialparks.comPublished in Knoxville News Sentinel from May 12 to May 13, 2010
May 4, 2010 Sameer Abdallah Jubran   JUBRAN, SAMEER ABDALLAH - age 75, of Louisville, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 4th, 2010 at the University of Tennessee Medical Center of lung and heart failure after defeating lung cancer twice over the last seven years. His strong will and faith allowed him to bear his illnesses with courage, determination, and dignity. He is now in God's hands, smiling down on us all. The family wishes to express their great appreciation to the wonderfully caring and dedicated doctors, nurses, and staff at U.T. Hospital. Sameer's fun, warm, loving spirit will be greatly missed by his family and friends, and by all who came to know him. He was born September 29, 1934 in his dearly loved Ramallah, Palestine, and raised as an Orthodox Christian, he immigrated to the United States in 1952. He served proudly in the U.S. Army and was a Korean War Veteran. He returned to Ramallah in 1963 to find and marry his beloved wife Renee, who then first settled with him in the Detroit, Michigan area for 12 years. Joining his extended family, they then moved with their three daughters, Nada, Mona, and Samyah to Knoxville in 1975. The rolling hills and hospitable people of East Tennessee made him feel comfortable, as if he was still in the land of his birth. He first owned and operated Jay's Market in North Knoxville, and later founded and operated Sam's Party Store and the Falafel Hut in the U.T. area for 25 years. Sameer, affectionately known to so many as Sam, was a lovable, honest, hardworking man who was dedicated to his family and to his Palestinian cultural heritage, while he exhibited a love and friendship with his entire extended Ramallah, Palestine family. With his wife Renee, he was a generous host whose many guests literally walked over his welcome mat that said "All of our guests make us happy." Often the life of the party and ready with a quick quip, he embraced the U.T. students and community, the Vols, and the Lady Vols with an ardent and fun-filled spirit. Not merely a jovial jokester, he never forgot his roots and was a serious, educated, thoughtful, and passionate defender of the aspirations of the people of his birthplace. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Abdallah and Julia, of Ramallah, Palestine, and his stepmother Zakia, of Knoxville; his brothers Jubran of Beirut, Lebanon, Farid of Louisville, Tennessee, and George of Farmington Hills, Michigan, and his sister Nada Jubran Habiby of Nazareth, Israel. Survivors include: loving and devoted wife of 47 years, Renee; daughters, Nada Kuchinic and husband John of Louisville, Tennessee, Mona Fawal and husband David of Birmingham, Alabama, and Samyah Jubran of Knoxville; brother, Fuad Jubran and wife Yolanda, Louisville, Tennessee; sister, Matilda Ajlouny, Louisville, Tennessee; grandchildren, Logan and Brianna Kuchinic of Louisville, Tennessee, and Julia, Alexander, and Hannah Fawal of Birmingham, Alabama; sisters-in-law, Malak Jubran, Knoxville, Rose Jubran, Louisville, Tennessee, and Corine Jubran, Farmington Hills, Michigan, and many wonderful nieces, nephews, and cousins. Pallbearers are: Chuck Ajlouny, Elias Amireh, Rami Amireh, Anthony Eid, Salam Habiby, Omar Jubran, Robert Jubran, and Samer Shatara. Funeral services will be held 9:00 AM Friday, May 7, 2010 at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, followed by interment at Sherwood Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 5:30 to 8:15 PM Thursday at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, followed by a Trisagion prayer service, with Father John Kostas officiating. Online condolences may be extended at www.rosemortuary.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the U.T. Cancer Institute, 1520 Cherokee Trail, Suite 110, Knoxville, TN, 37920, or St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 4070 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN, 37919, or the charity of your choice. May his memory be eternal. Arrangements provided by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. Published in Knoxville News Sentinel from May 6 to May 7, 2010
January 27, 2010 Mr. Jim Peroulas fell asleep in the lord  PEROULAS, JAMES JOHN (JIM) - age 94, of West Knoxville, born on October 1,1915 in Ditiki Fragista, Evrytania, Greece, the eldest child of John and Eleni Peroulas, followed by sister Metaxia and brother Frank, passed away Wednesday, January 27, 2010, at Parkwest Hospital. He was an active member of St. George Greek Orthodox Church where he was a member of the Parish Council several times and became Parish President in 1978. He was a long time Knoxville restaurateur having worked tirelessly at the Gold Sun Cafe eventually partnering with his brother Frank in 1970. They renamed the restaurant to Peroulas' Quality Foods in 1977 and ran it until they retired in 1995. Education was important to Jim, so after grammar school he attended high school in Karpenisi until his graduation in 1934. He was a very good student and was accepted to the Salonica School of Law in Thessaloniki, Greece. Two years into his studies, the Greek Army drafted Jim for mandatory military service in 1936. He was drafted as a Lieutenant, later becoming Captain, specializing in anti aircraft artillery until 1940. During this time some of Greece's neighboring countries were becoming restless. Italy and Albania were not getting along. At one point the Italian ambassador called Greek officials at 3 a.m. asking permission to enter Greece to invade neighboring Albania. Greece denies access and senses trouble to come. Italy ignores the denial and begins to enter Greece without permission. The Greek military was prepared. They fought back and the Italians were defeated. The triumph became a worldwide news event. The world was once again reminded of Greece's stamina, power, and tenacity. Because of Jim's leadership, dedication and command, General and Prime Minister John Metaxas respectfully decorates Jim with the War Cross for heroic duty. This is the equivalent to America's Purple Heart. From 1941 through 1945 Jim served as an Officer for the National Greek Resistance Forces. Jim lead the forces in the mountainous regions during Germany's occupation of Greece through 1944. Once again, the Greek government recognized Jim's leadership and presented him with the Metal of Honor for his participation. Throughout the years Jim always had time for the Evrytanian Association. It was at the 1968 Knoxville Convention that Jim was elected President. He was truly honored and worked vigorously at fundraising, growing the membership, attending quarterly board meetings in Charlotte, and also visiting other Association cities motivating them for the greater cause - to give back. He was the oldest living past President. After his tenure, he continued to attend annual conventions and meetings and served as an advisor during board meetings. Published in Knoxville News Sentinel from January 29 to January 30, 2010
December 22,2009 Mrs. Georgia Kaousias fell asleep in the lord   KAOUSIAS, GEORGIA - fell asleep in the Lord on December 22, 2009. She remained an inspiration and a joy until the very end. She never met a stranger, and because of this, every outing was an adventure. She never lost her insatiable curiosity or her humor. May everyone be so fortunate to have such a mother. She was a member of St. George Greek Orthodox Church and her love of that faith sustained her through easy and hard times. Born in Waterbury Connecticut on December 1, 1924 to Theodore Xanthos and Toula Galanopoulos Xanthos. She grew up in Wellsville, New York, and made her way to Tennessee with brief stops in Greece. She was formerly a resident of Milan, TN until 1978, then Johnson City, TN and moved to Knoxville in 2006. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, George Kaousias, her three adoring and devoted daughters, Deena Kaousias, Fay Kaousias Shrock and her husband Manny Shrock, Tammy Kaousias Steed and her husband Todd Steed; her brother and her sister-in-law, Pete and Thena Xanthos, of Grand Island, NY; her niece Chris Xanthos Boomhower of Tucson, AZ; her nephew Thomas Xanthos of Boston, MA, and extended family both here and abroad. She and her husband were founding members of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in the Tri-Cities area and the family is very grateful for the support of that parish and the Knoxville parish. We are also grateful for the excellent care given to her by the many doctors, nurses, therapists, and C.N.A.'s along the way. The funeral will be 11:00 A.M. Monday at St. George Greek Orthodox Church with Father John Kostas officiating. Interment will follow at Lynnhurst Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials may be made to St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 4070 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee 37919. The family will receive friends from 4:00 - 6:00 P.M. Sunday with a Trisagion service to follow at Rose Mortuary Broadway Chapel. Online condolences may be made at www.rosemortuary.com.
Published in Knoxville News Sentinel from December 24 to December 27, 2009  print
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