There are moments when the soul longs for true role models — figures who conquer the world not with wealth and noise, but with light, dignity, and generosity.
One such Greek is Elias (Lou) Katsos — who conquered New York City not through arrogance, but through relentless work, kindness, and love for his fellow human beings.
A man who helps build communities, resurrect places of worship, and create culture and place, while he is building skyscrapers.
Saint Nicholas Church, built in 1916, was destroyed during the September 11 terror attacks on the Twin Towers, it was the only non-secular building to be destroyed. It was rebuilt thanks to the dedication of countless supporters over the years. Renowned architect Santiago Calatrava designed the church and drew inspiration from the 40 windows in the Cathedral Church of Hagia Sophia. In its final stage, the heroes is was Katsos, who has lent his technical expertise, invested his time and energy, and even traveled abroad to resolve critical supply chain challenges.
Lou Katsos does, as Plato would say, “the intrinsic good.” He exemplifies the essence of the Hellenic citizen, ensuring rights and responsibilities are honoured and working for the good.
Lou Katsos’s commitment to Greek heritage and culture is undisputed. The founder and president of the Eastern Mediterranean Business and Cultural Alliance (EMBCA), and president of the New York Chapter of the American Hellenic Institute (AHI), he has been involved in many initiatives supporting Greek culture and education.
Lou Katsos has dedicated a large part of his life to advancing Hellenic ideals and supporting the Greek diaspora… and other diasporas.
Katsos, as a member of the Harlem Chamber of Commerce, co-chaired the Second Harlem Renaissance Commission, which revitalised Harlem. His commitment to the lives and culture of others is as a classic Hellene. His commitment to Harlem’s Renaissance was recognised by the late and great Lloyd Williams, the chair of the chamber, who said Katsos was instrumental in “bringing together people of good will… Jewish, Greek, Italian, Korean, Dominican and Cuban… and …African American and Caribbean American” communities.
Katsos always reminds Greek Americans of the racism they faced in the past.
“We should remember the killings which took place against us, the second rise of the KKK which targeted Greeks, the burning of Greek towns in Omaha, Nebraska in the 1920s.
“We were never considered a white people, we were always seen as a coloured people in the United States… and it only began to change on October 28th, 1940, because this ‘little country’ (Greece) pushed back fascism… it transformed the way Americans perceived Greeks,” said Katsos in 2020 to Neos Kosmos.
Amid numbers, blueprints, and contracts, he still finds time to support Hellenism… to embrace the Greek diaspora… to invest in education, history, and culture. And while doing that, as a Hellene, he seeks to build bridges with all others.
Through his philanthropy, he opens doors where others see walls and through his integrity, he proves that success and humanity can — and must — walk hand in hand.
Lou Katsos is not just a business titan. He is a modern Spartan of the diaspora, holding high the banner of Hellenism with the same determination that the 300 of Leonidas I once raised their swords at Thermopylae.
Only his “battle” is for love, knowledge, justice, and truth. If only… if only we had 300 Greeks like Lou Katsos… Greece, the diaspora, the entire world would be brighter, fairer, more humane. This is Lou, a man who never forgets who he is, and who reminds us of all we can become.
*Leonidas Loizidis, producer and director, is a Cypriot Greek trained at NYU’s Tisch School and in Stanislavski-based acting. He has produced numerous films and theatre productions and toured internationally with his theatrical group.
