Every year since the late 90’s, the graduates of AKSS (The Anargyrios and Korgialenios College of Spetses), Class of 1970 meet on the Incredulity of Thomas Anniversary – just a week after Easter, a day dedicated to remembrance of those classmates who unfortunately are not with us anymore… but also to catch up and have real fun, remembering stories from 56 to 62 years ago from our college where most of us spent six unforgettable years – in many ways.
We either meet up in one of our fellow graduate’s residences or at a venue in Attica or nearby. It was my turn to invite my class-mates – last time was in 2006.
We are possibly one of the very few educational institutions where a great number of graduates of all classes reside abroad – our class being no exception, given the international multi-business interests, as well as always a 20 centum Diaspora of Greeks from all over Planet Ocean in this unique college of the hidden paradise of the heroic and historic island of Spetses!
My wife did all the cooking – like all the wives of our class, for the 13 strong group plus the surprise presence at the gathering being our teacher Mr. Michalis Gryparis (pictured above), who was the lead teacher from 1964 when we entered the college on the remarkable island of Spetses.
It took an hour or so for all to arrive and we began with dips and drinks followed by traditional Greek plates – meticulously prepared by my wife Anny – and Greek wines.
Discussions of all type covered the day, ahead of our coffees and sweets, specially prepared by our class-mate Dimitri Assimakopoulos. Geopolitics was the main topic as well as how each of us occupies his day…
The next gathering hopefully will be on The Holy Spirit’s Day in Spetses in the College where all Classes meet and many participate in the memorial service for the benefactor of our college Sotirios Anargyros, who at the end of the 19th century emigrated to the USA and became one of the leading tobacco traders of the time. Having endorsed the vision of the great Greek prime-minister Eleftherios Venizelos, for the establishment of an educational institution that would educate the leaders for the nascent Greek society, Anargyros built in the 1920’s, together with another benefactor, Marinos Korgialenios (from Cephalonia), the “Anargyrios and Korgialenios School of Spetses – AKSS” to emulate the famous British schools Eton and Harrow.
Present were: Dimitris Amblianitis, Dimitris Assimakopoulos, Panagiotis Christou, Dimitris Economopoulos, Dimitris Gavroglou, Alexis Heraklides, Nicholas Karydes, Capt. Zisis Kalkanis, Alexandros Karagelis, Lakis Myriallis – managed to arrive from Saudi Arabia a few hours before the gathering, Andreas Papapanagiotou, George Zaharopoulos, …George Sideris via WhatsApp* and …John Faraclas.
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