United Hellenic Voters of America

The United Hellenic Voters of America mourn the passing of Chris Tomaras and extend our deepest sympathies and prayers to his family.

Chris P. Tomaras, 1937 - 2015

The passing of Chris P. Tomaras on October 14, 2015, has filled our hearts with sadness, and it has left a void in our souls. The United Hellenic Voters of America are mourning the passing of a good friend and a great Hellene.

Mr. Tomaras will be remembered by all of us as a great person who cared about people, and as respected philanthropist who utilized his success in the business world to benefit many causes in our communities.  But above everything else, for all Greeks no matter what part of the world they call home, the legacy of Chris Tomaras will live on forever as a person who truly loved Hellenism.

 Mr. Tomaras believed deeply in the value of education, and that lead him to establish the PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation, which offers annually more than $250,000 in scholarships of $10,000 each to Greek American students in the U.S., so that they can complete their college education. Mr. Tomaras through his Foundation, had provided financial help for over 300 deserving students.

Chris Tomaras served for 5 consecutive 2-year terms as Vice President for North & South America of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (ΣAE), focusing on the needs of the Region’s Greek education efforts, on a just resolution to the occupation of Cyprus, the “Macedonia name” issue, the Pontian Genocide and other Greece’s national concerns.

Mr. Tomaras was named “Distinguished Greek American” and recognized with the “Ellis Island Medal of Honor.” He had served as a member of the Anatolia College Board of Trustees and a founding member of the American Foundation of Hellenic Studies at Georgia State University. He was named “Hellene of the Year” by the Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois, and he received an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from the Hellenic College-Holy Cross in Boston, MA.

 In 2007, Mr. Tomaras was inducted by the United Hellenic Voters of America (UHVA) in the Greek-American Hall of Fame. The Greek-American community is not going to be the same without Chris Tomaras. He will be missed by all of us.