The American College of Greece regrets to announce the passing of Socratis Zaiousi, (DEREE ’12), Thomas Kollias (PIERCE ’91), Harriet Archaniotaki-Newell (PIERCE Upper Division ’35), Zoe Tokatlian (PIERCE Upper Division ‘54 &’55), Elizabeth Douli (PIERCE ’45), Ismene Efstathiou (PIERCE ’50), and Antonia Kangelari-Nikolaides (PIERCE ’73), for whom Classmate Alexandra Fragkoudaki (PIERCE ’73) wrote this eloquent obituary.

Antonia Kaggelari-Nikolaides (PIERCE ’73) passed away on August 7 in Chicago after a six-and-a-half-year battle with breast cancer. She was 58.

After graduating from Pierce College, Tonia studied chemical engineering at the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki (BSc 1979) and then continued her studies in the US, receiving a MSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1982, followed by a PhD in Chemical Engineering in 1985.

In our school years, Tonia was our intellectual classmate, who could be trusted for her maturity, but who also embraced and shared in every joke.

Tonia will be remembered for her warm smile, inventiveness, optimism, and strength. She had a magical way of making people feel that life is great and that no problem is worth worrying about.

She overcame many difficulties in her life with stoicism, perseverance and great love for the beautiful world we live in. She took great joy from the joy of others and made people around her feel lucky for knowing her.

She was a great role model for her sons and was extremely happy to witness her older son Daniel’s wedding in June 2011. She was very fortunate to share her life with her beloved husband Christos Nikolaides, with whom she studied together for her PhD in the US, where she lived ever since.

Her fight with a very aggressive form of breast cancer was inspirational. She will always be in our hearts and minds as a role model, as an example to follow. Rest in peace Tonia!

Written by Alexandra Fragkoudaki (PIERCE ’73)

Alumni and friends of ACG may send obituaries for an alumnus/alumna or former ACG staff member to be included in our newsletter. Please send submissions to the Office of Development & Alumni Relations at [email protected]. Please note that ACG is not responsible for the content of the obituaries, and can only publish the names of those deceased it has been informed about