Demetrios Liappas, a pillar of the Greek-American community in Southern California, at Loyola Marymount University, passed away on Sunday. Credit: Loyola Marymount UniversityDemetrios Liappas, a pillar of the Greek-American community in Southern California, passed away on Sunday.
Liappas was the Director of the Basil P. Caloyeras Center for Modern Greek Studies from the inception of the program in 1980 until his retirement in 2015. He worked tirelessly for the promotion of Hellenism at the Loyola Marymount University and the Greek-American community of Southern California.
In a statement, Director of the Basil P. Caloyeras Center Christina Bogdanou described Liappas as an “educator, a mentor, an activist, and a dear friend to many.” He was a true Hellene, Bogdanou said. “His ethos, kindness, generosity of heart, and modesty about his many achievements were unparalleled.”
Born in Nestorio, near Kastoria in northern Greece, Liappas was a proud Macedonian, with his childhood marred by the troubles of the Nazi Occupation and the Civil War. He was raised in Thessaloniki, acted as a sea scout and a soccer player who was recruited for the youth team of the professional soccer club, Axios, in his earlier life.
Demetrios Liappas’ move to the US
Liappas’ life changed when he and his family immigrated to Cleveland, Ohio, at the age of 18. He studied mathematics at Case Western Institute of Technology, Western Reserve University, and Ohio State University.
