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Subject: HOMER APOSTOLOS ATHANASSIOU
Date: 21 Oct 2005 17:25:10 -0600

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Surnames: ATHANASSIOU ATHANASSIADES HADJI-ATHANASSIOU
Classification: Death

Message Board URL:

http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/RUB.2ACI/4940

Message Board Post:

BELOVED TEACHER, SCHOLAR & ARCHAEOLOGIST

Homer Apostolos Athanassiou (7/26/39 - 10/08/05) was born to Apostolos (Nicky) Athanassiou (aka Athanassiades) and Vittoria Beatrice Athanassiou (nee Messina), in Beirut, Lebanon. He passed away from complications due to cancer at his home in Fort Collins, Colorado.

After completing his undergraduate work and Master’s Degree at the American University of Beirut, Homer received his PhD in Art History and Archaeology from the University of Missouri in 1977. During his fieldwork at Rasm et-Tanjara, his discoveries revealed an important ancient city dating to the Iron Age, in the Syrian Ghab, which had been previously thought uninhabitable.

Homer also taught English and Literacy all over the world, including refugee camps in Lebanon in the 1960's and several universities in China, including the University of Technology in Changsha in the 1980's. Most recently he taught English in Brooklyn, NY at United Talmudical Academy and worked as an Administrator for the NY City Council Sports and Arts Summer Camp.

He was a "Citizen of the World" who spoke and read many languages, including Greek, French, Arabic, German, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese. In addition to his specialty of Greco-Roman Archaeology, he enjoyed collecting coins, stamps, oriental art, and WWII memorabilia. He loved to write poetry, dance, listen to music, and was passionate about the human condition. He read the Bible, the Koran, and the works of Lao Tze and considered himself a Buddhist at heart. His last conclusion was that "We are all One," all human beings together.

He is survived by his daughter, Beatrice Vittoria Taylor (), her husband J. Andrew Taylor, and their children: Andre, Alexander, Bruce, and Alyson (Fort Collins, Colorado); his daughter, Katherine Elizabeth Athanassiou () (Columbia, Missouri); his brother, Alexander, his brother’s wife Maria, and their children: Nicholas, Alexander, and Andrea (Boston, Massachusetts). His sister, Elizabeth (Sue) is deceased.

Donations in his memory can be made to Hospice of Larimer County, 305 Carpenter Road, Fort Collins, CO 80525, USA.

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