NEW YORK, NY –
On what should have been a day of celebration, Ioanna Antzoulis-Giannopoulos began her journey to eternity on Sunday, August 23—her 71st birthday—in her native Lamia, Greece, leaving behind a grieving family, countless friends and colleagues, and a Greek American community deeply saddened by her loss.
The heartbreaking news was shared by a devastated Stelios Taketzis, Cosmos FM producer and former Executive Director, during a live radio broadcast on Sunday morning, while GAEPIS’ Board of Directors was expected to issue an official statement.
Giannopoulos, the Director of Operations of Hellenic Public Radio–Cosmos FM for the last two decades and a deeply cherished presence in New York’s Greek American community, was in Greece for her summer vacation with family at her favorite destination, Fanos [Fthiotida], across the water from Oreoi in northern Evia.
Ioanna Antzoulis – Giannopoulos was born in Lamia, Fthiotis and was raised in Athens. She moved from Greece to Brooklyn, NY with her family in 1973. She attended “English Writing” courses at NYU and graduated with a Liberal Arts Degree from Brooklyn College. At the age of 18 she worked on a daily Greek radio show on WEVD, the “Paralikas Show”.
She left her radio career to raise her two sons, George and Thomas. Ioanna was a proud volunteer at her beloved Three Hierarchs Parish where she served as a Parent-Teacher Organization President, on the School Board, and the Philoptochos.
During this time, she also attended evening courses in accounting and computer science while working at the family business.
In 2001 Ioanna joined the GAEPIS -Hellenic Public Radio-Cosmos FM 91.5, as a volunteer, then took on the role of an administrative assistant before serving as the Director of Operations, a position she has held since 2006.
In 2018, she was honored by the Association of Greek American Professional Women with its Greek American Woman of the Year Award.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
May her memory be eternal !
