The first president of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) has passed away.
Andrew A. Athens (Andreas Athanasoulas) served as President SAE since its founding in 1995 and until December 2006 when the sixth World Assembly of SAE unanimously proclaimed him president emeritus.
He was born in Chicago, USA in 1922 to migrant parents, and became known for his outstanding service to the Greek Community, while the Orthodox Church placed him among the leading figures of the Greek Diaspora.
Athens held leadership offices in roughly 50 Greek community organisations and chambers of commerce in the US, Greece, Belgium and other countries. He played a leading role in establishing a Greek Lobby in Washington after the Turkish Invation of Cyprus in 1974, and defended religious freedom and human rights throughout his life.
Among the countless awards he’s received, is the Greek State’s Gold Cross of the Order of the Phoenix (1977), the Ellis Island Medal of Honour Award (1977), the Cypriot Republic Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (1997), the US Congressional Medal of Honour (1993), the Georgia Republic Supreme Medal (2001), the Ukraine Parliament Medal (2003) and many more. In 1979, he was declared Knight of the Order of the Crown in Belgium.
After the war, he set up his steel works company, Metron Steel Corporation in 1950, which has now become one of the largest steel works companies in the US.
He met his wife Louise during WWII and leaves behind their two children and four grandchildren. He was 91.