International Senior Picnic in Windsor, Canada
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Pictured - Constantine Glavas and Athanasios Pontikis
International Senior Picnic
by Contributing Writer Elena Kerasiotis

May 29, 2007 - Windsor Canada - Seniors from the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in St. Clair Shores, crossed the border to attend the second annual picnic, hosted by the Holy Cross Windsor Canadian Senior Group at the Hellenic Banquet Center. On hand to welcome President of the Assumption Seniors, Katherine Spadafore and US visitors, was Athanasios Pontikis, president of the Windsor chapter and owner of Thanasi's Olympus Greek Restaurant.

Both groups wanted to recognize Father Demitrios Kavadas for forming the Windsor Seniors and they paid tribute to his memory with a toast. Guest, Dr. Constantine Cerkez, a cardiologist from Windsor, stated, "He's here in spirit." He continued, "Last year Father was here with his guitar leading us in song, he told us then, that even if I'm not here in person, I will always be watching over you. It was as if he knew." Athena Hanzakos, past president of the Assumption Seniors, also acknowledged Father's dedication to the seniors and his efforts to establish the Windsor Chapter. At his funeral family members commented on Father's deep affection for his new parish and how deeply grateful he was for having been able to serve the Windsor congregation during the last four years of his ministry.

Over 75 seniors shared in a traditional Greek Picnic Dinner with all of the trimmings, complete with souvlakia and homemade tsatziki. The weather was extremely cooperative and everyone enjoyed the balmy afternoon breezes as they lingered in conversation to the strains of familiar Greek village music.

During a conversation with Mr. Pontikis, he shared the origins of his unique name, Pontikis (strickly translated as Mr. Rat). He retold the story of his great-great grand father, Athanasios Tsatoukas, who was a veteran of the war of 1821 to liberate Greece from the Turkish Ottoman occupation. When he returned to his home from the battle at Mesologi, the villagers greeted him as "Pontikas." The name resulted from the villagers associating Tsatoukas with the horrible conditions that had forced the troops to endure starvation at the front, because they were surrounded with little or no supplies, survival was dependant on eating even rodents as a final source of sustenance. "My grandfather was a very proud man and in order to affirm his efforts at the front, he decided to take the name Pontikis as his own, to remind everyone of his past and to sustain his contribution even into the future." It is evident that he accomplished his mission, now even after 186 years; Mr. Pontikis remembers proudly what his ancestors did to assure the liberation of Greece.

There were so many more stories in this group, John Loizon the architect of the Annunciation Cathedral, Olga Loizon, his wife, who was the first to introduce Gyro to the United States, Alex Marinos, and an artist with General Motors, whose miniature award winning logos continue to adorn the bumpers of every GM car. He continues to work in miniatures and is part of an International group for miniature art, the Miniature Art Society of Florida, whose annual exhibition and competition will be held this October in Clearwater Florida. Restaurateurs, George and Athena Hanzakos, owners of Ham Heaven in Detroit, and Cardiologist, Dr. Constantine Cerkez, just to name a few.

The stories filled the air, and it was evident that this vibrant group had contributed much and would leave a lasting legacy for all to be proud of into the future.

Malista!