Greek American Author Nicholas Gage At The National Hellenic Museum

The National Hellenic Museum and the National Hellenic Society hosted renowned author and journalist Nicholas Gage, in a fascinating and moving presentation, “A Writer’s Odyssey.”
More than one hundred guests heard Gage review his life’s experiences as a Greek immigrant, as well as a journalist, investigative reporter and foreign correspondent for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and the Associated Press.

Mr. Gage traced his journey from a small village in Northern Greece, to becoming a respected and honored journalist in the United States. A major part of these stories is chronicled in his first two books.

In Eleni,Gage used the skills he learned as an investigative reporter to tell how his mother arranged for her children to escape from their village during the Greek Civil War in the 1940s, how she was tortured and executed in retribution by the guerrillas occupying it, and how he hunted down her killers thirty years later.Translated into 32 languages, Eleni was nominated for best biography by the National Book Critics Circle, and received the top literary prize from the Royal Society of Literature of Great Britain in 1984.

Gage’s next book, A Place for Us, is a moving saga of the immigrant experience, while his latest book, Greek Fire, is a dual biography of Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis.

Gage was co-producer of the film version of Eleni and co-executive producer of The Godfather Part III, which was nominated for an Oscar as best picture in 1994.

Nicholas Gage has been awarded five honorary degrees, including a doctorate in 1985 from Boston University, where he gave the commencement address, and established a scholarship fund in memory of his mother.  He is an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and serves as President of the Pan-Epirotic Federation.

National Hellenic Museum Chairman and Calamos Investments CEO, John Calamos Sr., welcomed guests and introduced George Marcus, Chairman of the National Hellenic Society. Mr. Marcus expressed his pleasure over the important collaborations and joint projects of both institutions, with Dr. George Korkos, Trustee for both institutions, introduced his friend, Nicholas Gage.
The event was attended by: John Calamos Sr.; George Marcus; His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos of the Metropolis of Chicago; Connie Mourtoupalas, President of the National Hellenic Museum; Art Dimopoulos, Executive Director of the National Hellenic Society, and NHS members, Steve Padis, Tony Saris, Fanis Economidis, and John Varones; National Hellenic Museum Trustees and Distinguished Advisors: Dr. George Korkos, Thomas Skallas, Bill Vranas, John Koudounis, and Nick Vern, as well as Yanni Sianis, Chief of Staff of NHM. The Midwest Pan-Epirotic Federation was represented by Ms. Maria Vassiliades, General Secretary, and Ms. Eva Geroulis, Governor, while Ms. Eirini Pentzaropoulou represented the Consul General of Greece.

About the National Hellenic Museum
The National Hellenic Museum is America’s only national institution to document and present the legacy of Greek Americans and their contributions to the American mosaic, while celebrating their rich Greek history and culture and the profound impact of their Hellenic heritage upon the world.

The Museum is located in a 40,000-square-foot, three-story, eco-friendly building in Chicago’s Greek Town, and is home to interactive exhibits, children’s education center, research library, oral history  center, museum store, special events hall, and rooftop terrace.
For more information, visit http://www.nationalhellenicmuseum.org or call 312-655-1234.

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