This correspondence took place July 2005
Your website on Krokees is wonderful. I spent a lot of time
last night looking at all it has to offer!
I have a question regarding research in Krokees. My
husband's surname is Babakitis, or Vamvakitis, as it has
been spelled in the past. His grandfather, George
Babakitis, married Maria Kostoulias in 1904. His family
came from Krokees, or Levetsova as it was known at the
time. I am wondering if you know where we might find the
vital records for the town. Would they be in Sparti? Also,
does the Babakitis or Kostoulias name still survive in
Krokees?
Thank you, and I look forward to your reply.
All the best,
Gwyneth Horobin Babakitis
Hi Gwyneth...from Krokees where we are holding our 51st Annual Krokeai
Society convention
The Vamvakitis name is still alive and strong in Krokees and in
Rochester NY,USA where I live. I'm not sure about Kostoulias though.
Please understand there may be many George Vamvakitis in town ...do
you happen to know the name of his father or mother? and where their
house was located ( which neighborhood ).
Also please let me know where George and Maria immigrated and ...what
is your place of residence
I will ask the elders here in town about George Vamvakitis and Maria
Kostoulias and get back to you as soon as I have some info and ....
some free time to get on the web. Great hearing from you
thank you from your kind words.
Yeia sou (best regards)
Dimitri Katsetos, secretary
Krokeai Society USA and Canada
Yeia sou Dimitri,
Efharisto for replying! Well, I'm afraid the names that I
mentioned are of people that are long gone from this earth.
George Babakitis was a fruit peddler in Lower East Side
Manhattan. He was born 1880. He was crippled by a horse and
cart, and then tragically was killed when he fell into the
subway. His family is called Vamvakitis in the 1920 census,
and in the 1930 census, the family was calling themselves
Babakitis. In 1920, they were living on Cherry Street, and
in 1930, they were living on James Street. Mary (Panagiota)
Kostoulias was born 1887 in Tarapsa, Greece. George came
over in 1905, Mary came over in 1908, I believe.
My husband is Peter (Panagiotis), and his father is James.
James, a retired scientist, lives outside Chicago with his
Greek wife, Maria. James was the 9th child out of 10
children.
I have seen the Vamvakitis name in Rochester records, but I
am unsure of a connection. It seems to be an unusual name,
so I am hoping there is something.
Peter and I live in California, just 30 minutes north of
San Francisco. The olive and fig trees and the oleander
here remind me of Greece!
Yeia sou,
Gwyneth
Note: Peter Babakitis and Gwyneth Horobin are related to Paul ( Pavlos) Vamvakitis (Toronto) and Tassos Vamvakitis ( used to own a Bookstore in Athens)...we are happy to have help them reconect.
Visit Gwyneth's page
http://www.gwynethhorobin.com/gwynethspages |
