My Family Tribute
Both Great Grandfathers, Theodore Cambourakis and Nicholas Magriplis came to America through Ellis Island. All maternal Great-Grandfathers and Great-Grandmothers were from the island of Kalymnos in the Dodecanese Islands. My Great grandfathers’ names are written on the wall at Ellis Island. Great-grandmothers, Callipe Cambourakis and Irene Magriplis married while in Greece and immigrated after their husbands established themselves and residency in America, where they then raised their families.
Theodore came in 1923, in his forties, after having originally immigrated to Russia in the 1900s, as a teen. He was forced to flee Russia with the communist takeover, and after 20 years had to leave his business and home and leave everything they established in Russia and return to Greece. After several years, he then immigrated to America, to educate his oldest son, an accomplished violinist and musician. The family started over a second time in a foreign country. He was a furrier by trade and loved America deeply.
Nicholas came at age 15 to live with his older brother, George, who was already in America, to assist in the support of a large family in Kalymnos. He became a tool and dye maker and worked at the Brooklyn Navy Yard until his retirement at age 60. He was involved in the construction of major battleships and aircraft carriers used during WWII. They both returned to Greece and married and brought their brides to America, where their children were born. They all settled in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and raised their families. Great-Grandfather Nicholas proudly hung his American flag outside his brownstone every holiday, was a avid Yankee fan, and always declared "God bless America - the greatest country".
Paternal Side:
Great-Grandfather Anton Ayvalopoulos arrived in America through Ellis Island in the 1900's. He was a Greek from Smyrna, Turkey, who as a refugee of Smryna (Izmir) fled to Greece. He then immigrated to America to find a better life. He married another Greek immigrant, Athena Kartalis, and settled in Astoria, Queens. He owned an orthopedic shoe factory. His name is also on the wall in Ellis Island. His son, Emanuel Ayvas (name shortened in the 1950s) is my grandfather and I am his namesake. He was a hairdresser by trade and professional musician, who for over 50 years performed Greek music for weddings and dances in the New York tri-state area. He served in the Army in WWII. My father, Anton Ayvas, also a hairdresser and musician played in his band for over 30 years.
Grandmother Alice Eliades Ayvas came to America in 1950 with her sister to meet her father, Sotire Eliades, who had immigrated through Ellis Island in the 1920's. He would make periodic trips from America to Greece to visit his family, but they were not united until the 1950's. My Grandmother Alice was born in the village of Foustani, and was raised in Thessalonki. She endured the hardships of WWII and German occupied Greece, when all schools were closed and she was refused a formal education. Here in America she married shortly after meeting my Grandfather Emanuel Ayvas, and together they owned and operated a hair salon for over 30 years. They settled and raised their family in Emerson, New Jersey.
Even though I am third generation from 3 sides, and second generation from 1 side, the Greek Orthodox faith and my Greek heritage have played a large part in my upbringing. Our religion, history, music, foods and traditions are always routinely experienced in our home and family life.
