Nicholas Louis Pahountis
Nicholas Louis Pahountis (Dad) was born on the Island of Karpathos, Dodekanesos, Greece in 1927. Dad’s father (Louis John Pahountis) had been living in the United States since 1908, returning to Karpathos for a couple years following service in the US Army during World War One to marry Kalliope, Dad’s mother. But the family was still very poor, despite having a father working as a coal miner in the USA. As such, Yiayia Kalliopi had to sell all of the gold coins handed down from generations (Karpathian tradition) to fund her new husband to return to the US in 1928. But not much money made its way back, especially after the Great Depression in the USA, and Dad, at the age of 10, along with his two older brothers, began working full time. This required Dad to drop out of school following the third-grade. In 1938 an influenza broke loose on the island, and Dad’s mother passed away when he was just 11 years old. Dad and his brothers were on their own, but were watched after by their Aunt who herself was occupied raising a very large family and dealing with stresses associated with the war and the Italian occupation of Karpathos.
As World War II enveloped Europe, Dad’s teen years were spent trying to stay alive. He witnessed destruction and killing first hand, often participating in the defensive, confiscating German guns, helping people in need, but always working hard and saving every drachma. These were very difficult years for everyone, but especially for a young boy without parents; and he spoke about these times quite often throughout his life.
Despite these travails, Dad persevered setting a goal to get himself to the “land of opportunity” so as to earn enough money to establish a good family and retire successfully back to Greece. Dad immigrated to the United States through New York on the Andrea Doria in 1951 (this ship would later sink on July 25th, 1956). He arrived in New York with only $5, and immediately after completing the immigration process he got into a taxi and said “Greek Coffee?” Those were the only English words he knew, but they were enough to get him dropped off at a Greek Café in New York City. This left him with just $3 in his pocket. Upon entering the Greek Café, to his amazement, some fellow Karpathians recognized him. Dad was immediately welcomed and began working there. After saving enough money, he traveled to the coal town of Harmarville, Pennsylvania (10 miles east of Pittsburgh). Dad found some cousins there, and learned that his father was a coal miner in Logan, West Virginia. Dad traveled to Logan West Virginia in the late 50’s in search of his father, but not much was spoken about his father afterward.
Everyone would notice Dad’s incredible work ethic, which later landed him a job in the Melt Shop at Edgewater Steel Company, Oakmont, Pennsylvania. This was a physically demanding and risky job; shoveling slag out of very hot Open Hearth Furnaces, repairing damaged refractory brick by scaling its walls, and being constantly aware of the next 1600C molten steel pour; and doing so every 30 minutes off three furnaces, while walking the edges of the molds. Dad would later save the lives of two men who had almost slipped into the molten steel. Despite these brutal conditions, he consistently worked double-shifts in order to save enough money to accomplish his dreams. He would do this job taking no vacations for the next 31 years.
In July of 1954, he returned to Karpathos, Greece to marry Mom, Marigoula Kalliope Paraguidakis. Dad returned to the United States alone to prepare what was needed to get Mom into the United States. She travelled to New York on the Queen Fredericka on January 29, 1955. Speaking no English, but with the help of many other Greeks and non-Greeks, they were able to secure American citizenship and purchase their first home in Oakmont in 1957. The late 50’s and early 60’s also brought five children to the family. But soon after the birth of a son in 1961, a phone call was received saying that his father had been killed by a car while crossing a highway. It was that day that Dad ceased driving any motor vehicle.
Mom would sew clothes for her four daughters in an effort to save some money. She later became a seamstress to earn extra money. Mom would later become known for making some of the most beautiful intricate wedding gowns! Every Sunday, she would dress up the children with their “Sunday best” and walk about a mile to the Dormition of the Holy Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church for liturgy, located just across the street from the steel mill where Dad worked. If the weather was bad, a taxi was called, because not attending Church was not an option! Mom finally learned how to drive in 1969, and the family purchased its first car.
Every year, Dad would plant a large garden that would feed the family and practically the entire neighborhood! Every fall, Dad and Mom would set up preserves of tomatoes, grape leaves, quince and pear jams and γλυκό from grapefruit rinds. “Economia” was the daily word, and like most Greek-American families, a heavy dose of Greek customs, music, and language.
Dad continued to work in the steel mill and would always say “όταν λαμβάνω τη σύνταξή μου, θα επιστρέψω στην Ελλάδα” (when I get my pension, then I will return to Greece), and that’s exactly what he did in 1984. He fulfilled his dream and was retired in 30 years. For the next 27 years, Dad would spend most of his time in Karpathos, building homes for each of his children, spear fishing and listening to the winds of the Aegean from the patio of our ocean-side property.
Dad’s patron saint, St. Nicholas, took him away on December 6, 2008, his Name Day. Prior to his death, he spoke of keeping love within the family, keeping our faith in Christ, and in the values instilled in us. And so, having learned this valuable life lesson from our parents, we too now all return to the roots of our faith, culture and family.
