The AHEPAN Fall 2022 - 16

L to R: PSP Andrew Zachariades administers the Oath of Office to the new Supreme Lodge officers. Past Supreme Presidents, SP Kokotas, and the
Archbishop take a photo-op with Disney's finest. Co-Chairs of the AHEPA 5K PSC Dimitri and Effie Kirkiles proudly present a donation from the event.
ASDW Chair Karatzia looks on as a veteran shares her story.
Attending to the business of the Order, the AHEPA convention
body reelected Jimmy Kokotas, Brooklyn, N.Y., as Supreme
President for the 2022-23 administrative year.
" It is an honor and privilege to be reelected AHEPA Supreme
President, " he said, thanking the delegates who entrusted him
with serving the highest office of the Order.
Kokotas will have a seasoned Supreme Lodge serving with
him as all but two officers will return. Supreme Vice President
Lou Atsaves, Canadian President Emmanuel Constas, Supreme
Secretary Savas Tsivicos, Supreme Treasurer Emmanuel Kaitson,
and Supreme Athletic Director Chris Atsaves, were reelected.
Also reelected were: Supreme Governors Region 1 Kostas G.
Sofikitis, Region 2 James E. Gregorakis, Region 4 Dalton W.
Respass, Region 5 Dimitris S. Papageorgiou, Region 6 Sam
Benjamin, Region 7 Marshall A. Monsell, III, Region 8 Alexander
Mallas, and Region 10 Yannis Mitropoulos. Supreme Counselor
Themistocles Frangos and Supreme Governor Region 3 Theodore
Stamas are newcomers. Supreme President Kokotas reappointed
Nick Kavadas as National Sons Advisor.
Meet Supreme President Demetrios Kokotas
Brother Demetrios " Jimmy " Kokotas is an 18-year member of
AHEPA Chapter 200, Coney Island, N.Y. Prior to his reelection as
Supreme President, he served AHEPA in numerous national, district,
and chapter leadership positions, including three terms as
Supreme Vice President. As AHEPA District 6 Governor, Kokotas
organized a community rally at Ground Zero of the World Trade
Center to draw attention to the need for the Port Authority of New
York/New Jersey to cut the red tape and rebuild Saint Nicholas
Greek Orthodox Church-the only House of Worship destroyed
on September 11.
Kokotas is a successful restauranteur as the owner of Tom's
Restaurant and Tom's Coney Island. Through his restaurants,
Kokotas is active in the Brooklyn community, giving back in
support of local schools, domestic violence survivors and their
families, and the homeless. A proponent of education, he sponsors
AHEPA family scholarships in New York and New Jersey.
Kokotas is a dedicated parishioner of Three Hierarchs Greek
Orthodox Church, Brooklyn, where he served as treasurer for
two terms, co-chaired the church's renovation, and co-chaired
the community's festival. The Kokotas family holds membership
16 | THE AHEPAN · Fall 2022
in the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund.
Kokotas and his wife, Kalliope, have a daughter, Katerina.
AHEPA Family Elections
AHEPA family organizations also held their elections. Georgette
Boulegeris was elected Daughters of Penelope Grand President, Ryan
Marinos was elected Sons of Pericles Supreme President, and Maria
Ana Pantelous was reelected Maids of Athena Grand President.
Events
The AHEPA Centennial Supreme Convention featured several
memorable events to celebrate the Order's milestone 100-year
anniversary and to honor excellence in the community.
Delegates enjoyed a special Greek night dance at a unique
venue -the American Dance Hall on the Disney Boardwalk.
Conventioneers also enjoyed a unique event hosted by the
AHEPA family of Florida, a 1920s-themed murder mystery. A
fantastic cast of characters participated!
The fun continued thanks to the amazing hosts at Disney when
AHEPA celebrated its 100th Anniversary at EPCOT's World Showcase
Pavilion on July 20. Supreme President Kokotas, then-Grand
President Kathy Bizoukas, and Chairman of the Board Nicholas
A. Karacostas, PSP, welcomed everyone. They thanked George
Kalogridis, president, Segment Development and Enrichment for
Disney Parks, Experiences and Products; and his team, for hosting.
Kalogridis greeted the conventioneers and congratulated AHEPA
on its anniversary. Participants enjoyed an awesome fireworks display,
plenty of food and spirits, and danced the night away at the
pavilion. Past Supreme and Past Grand Presidents, Archbishop
Elpidophoros of America, and kids and families of all ages snapped
Insta-worthy pics with some very special friends-Mickey, Minnie,
Donald, and Goofy-at photo stations that celebrated AHEPA's
100th. It was a unique celebration that no one will forget.
The annual Athletic Awards luncheon hosted by the National
Athletics Department honored excellence. They announced 10
scholarship awards to outstanding scholar-athletes and inducted
six Greek Americans into the AHEPA Hellenic Athletic Hall of
Fame. (More on Page 29.) Former professional football player
Tony Pashos, a Hall of Fame inductee, and former professional
basketball player Enes Kanter Freedom delivered passionate
speeches. Moreover, the AHEPA Marathon Team announced a
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The AHEPAN Fall 2022

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