ΝΕΑ ΥΟΡΚΗ. Το πρωί της Πέμπτης , 13ης Φεβρουαρίου 2025 θα τελεστεί η Εξόδιος Ακολουθία του επιστήμονα, επιχειρηματία, φιλάνθρωπου και ευεργέτη, Δρα. Σωτήριο Βαχαβιώλου, που όπως έγραψαν οι «Αναμνήσεις» εξεδήμησε την Πέμπτη, 6η Φεβρουαρίου 2025, σε ηλικία 78 ετών.
Το σκήνωμά του το απόγευμα της Τετάρτης, 12ης Φεβρουαρίου 2025, από τις 5.00 – 8.00 μ.μ., θα εκτεθεί για προσκύνημα στο Γραφείο Τελετών «Τhe Brenna-Cellini Funeral Home», στην διεύθυνση 2365 Whitehorse Mercerville Road, Hamilton, NJ 08619.
Το πρωί Πέμπτης, 13ης Φεβρουαρίου 2025, από τις 10.00 -11.00 π.μ. το σκήνωμά του θα τεθεί για προσκύνημα στον ιερό ναό του Αγίου Γεωργίου στην διεύθυνση 1200 Klockner Road, Hamilton Township, NJ 08619. Αμέσως μετά στον ίδιο ναό θα ψαλεί η Εξόδιος Ακολουθία.
Ο ενταφιασμός του θα λάβει χώρα στο Κοιμητήριο «Princeton Cemetery» στην διεύθυνση 29 Greenview Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08542.
Ο θάνατός του καταλυπεί την σύζυγό του Ασπασία, τα παιδιά του Αθανασία και Νικόλαο Κουφάκη, Στέφανη και Michael Foglia, Κρίστη και Γεώργιο Κυριακόπουλο, τα εγγόνια Alexander, Maya, Alana, Melina, Peter, Nicholas Sotirios και Georgios Panagiotis, την αδελφή Σταυρούλα Ξενοφάνη, τον ανιψιό του Dimitri Nessas και τους λοιπούς συγγενείς και φίλους εδώ και στην γενέτειρα.
Η οικογένεια καλεί τους συγγενείς και φίλους όπως αντί ανθέων προσφέρουν δωρεές στη μνήμη του στο Ταμείο της Σχολής Ηλεκτρολόγων Μηχανικών του Πανεπιστήμιου Κολούμπια (Columbia Engineering (https://engineering.givenow.columbia.edu), specifying the “Electrical Engineering Support Fund,” Columbia Alumni Center, 622 West 113th Street, MC 4524, New York, NY 10025) είτε στον Γηροκομείο Σπάρτης «Άγιοι Ανάργυροι» κάνοντας κλικ στο https://girokomeio-spartis.gr/?page_id=65 είτε αποστέλλοντας επιταγές στην διεύθυνση στην διεύθυνση Episkopou Vresthenis 30, 231 00, Sparti, Greece.
Παραθέτουμε το πλήρες κείμενο της Νεκρολογίας που εξέδωσε η οικογένεια και η οποία αναρτήθηκε στην ιστοσελίδα του Γραφείου Τελετών «Τhe Brenna-Cellini Funeral Home».
Dr. Sotirios J. Vahaviolos passed away peacefully in his home in Princeton, New Jersey, on February 6th, 2025 at the age of 78. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Aspasia Felice (Nessas) Vahaviolos.
Sotirios was born in Mystras, Greece on April 16th, 1946, to Ioannis and Athanasia Vahaviolos. His childhood in Mystras was filled with a large and loving extended family and friends, with wonderful memories of adventures, diligent studies by candlelight, and caring for his beloved olive and fruit trees.
Sotirios learned about hard work and grit as an apprentice at his father’s butcher shop. This skill later helped support him during his academic studies by working as a butcher at a local supermarket. Upon arriving in the U.S., Sotirios enrolled at Farleigh Dickinson University where he earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering (graduating first in his class), and later at Columbia University where he received M.S. degrees in both Electrical Engineering and Philosophy, followed by a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering.
At the ages of 21 and 19, Sotirios and Aspasia met at a Greek community event, and the rest is history. Together they raised their daughters, Athanasia, Stephanie, and Kristy in West Windsor and then Princeton, New Jersey, with family summer vacations in Greece, which Sotirios always hoped would instill in his daughters a love of his village and of his motherland. Sotirios relished the simple things in life. Loud family gatherings filled with food, laughter, and love were what he enjoyed most.
Watching his daughters and nephew grow, gaining sons-in-law, and becoming a grandfather brought him so much joy. He motivated his family to be hardworking and to never forget their Greek roots. Most of all, he admired his wife’s kindness and loyalty. He credited her for creating a beautiful life for them all.
Sotirios’ career revolved around the field of Acoustic Emission and Non-Destructive Testing, first at Bell Labs and later at the company he founded in 1978, Physical Acoustics Corporation which would later become MISTRAS Group, Inc. He worked very hard to realize his dream of taking his company public and managed to do so in 2009 on the NYSE. He was a revered scientist and pioneer in the field he was so passionate about.
He was able to industrialize something that was a mere theory and created innovative equipment and services for the Oil & Gas, Aerospace, Transport, and Infrastructure industries to name a few. Throughout his career, Sotirios was a member of, or held leadership positions in, various industry and scientific organizations including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the American Society of Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), the Acoustic Emission Working Group (AEWG), and NDT Academia International.
Sotirios valued the Greek Community and loved his fellow Hellenes. He sought to remain connected to Greece and was active in the Hellenic diaspora while also supporting and giving back to fellow Greeks and Greek-Americans as many had done for him. Some examples of his community involvement include serving as President of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Hamilton, NJ where he congregated and enjoyed chanting at church. He was also proud to be named an “Archon” of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle of the Holy Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Additionally, Sotirios was very involved with Greek politics from a young age and was delighted to be chosen for an honorary position on the ballot for the at-large election list for the New Democracy party in 2012.
Sotirios leaves behind his children Athanasia Tia (Nikolaos Koufakis) Vahaviolos, Stephanie Vahaviolos (Michael) Foglia, Kristy Vahaviolos (Georgios) Kyriakopoulos, his nephew Dimitri Nessas, his beloved sister, Stavroula Xenofanes, and the grandchildren he adored so much – Alexander, Maya, Alana, Melina, Peter, Nicholas Sotirios, and Georgios Panagiotis. He was preceded in death by his parents Ioannis and Athanasia Vahaviolos and his brother, Apostolis Vahaviolos.
Calling hours will be on Wednesday, February 12th, 2025 from 5:00-8:00pm at the Brenna-Cellini Funeral Home, 2365 Whitehorse Mercerville Road, Hamilton, NJ 08619.
A morning visitation will be held on Thursday, February 13th at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 1200 Klockner Road, Hamilton Township, NJ 08619 from 10:00-11:00am followed by funeral services and then a burial at Princeton Cemetery at 29 Greenview Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08542.
Memorial contributions may be made in Sotirios’ memory to Columbia Engineering (https://engineering.givenow.columbia.edu), specifying the “Electrical Engineering Support Fund,” Columbia Alumni Center, 622 West 113th Street, MC 4524, New York, NY 10025 (and please be sure to note: “In Memory of Sotirios J. Vahaviolos) OR the SPARTA NURSING HOME FOUNDATION “OI AGIOI ANARGYROI” (https://girokomeio-spartis.gr/?page_id=65) at Episkopou Vresthenis 30, 231 00, Sparti, Greece.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sotirios Vahaviolos, please visit our floral store. To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Διαβάστε επίσης: https://www.anamniseis.net/apviose-o-efpatridis-igetis-sotirios-vahaviolos/
