Simena Cutis Skandalakis

Was born on February 10, 1927, in Marietta, Georgia. The eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Cutis of Marietta, Georgia, Mimi attended Marietta High School, graduating in 1944, and attended Mercer University where she was a member of Chi Omega. She worked at the Lockheed complex in Marietta and assisted her husband in his medical practice.

Mimi tirelessly served her beloved Greek Orthodox Church as a member of the ladies philanthropic organization, Philoptochos (“Friends of the Poor”), and was appointed by Archbishop Iakovos as National President where she served two terms under him and one year under Archbishop Spyridon from 1994 to 1999.

Mimi was the devoted mother of her three children, Vickie Skandalakis Scaljon, Lee Skandalakis, M.D. and Mitch Skandalakis. Her favorite role was that of grandmother to Michael Scaljon, Mimi Scaljon Godwin, Angelique Skandalakis Brants, Lina Skandalakis, Joanna Skandalakis, and John Skandalakis II. She is also survived by her son-in-law, William Michael Scaljon, M.D., and her brother Nick and sister-in-law Melpo Cutis of Athens, Greece. Her most recent favorite role was that of great grandmother to Mia Katherine Brants and J.W. Godwin. She was also affectionately known as “Aunt Mimi,” to her numerous nieces and nephews on the Skandalakis and Cutis sides of the family.

She was a life member of the Woman’s Auxiliary of Piedmont Hospital and Planters Garden Club. While her beloved husband, John Skandalakis, served on the Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia, Mimi authored a children’s book titled, “The Little Bulldog,” which enjoyed a large success at that time, and can still be found on Amazon.com. Her life’s philanthropic work was the National Philoptochos Society, where she often traveled on early morning flights from Atlanta to the New York office, to oversee multiple presidential responsibilities, consult with Archbishops Iakovos and Spyridon, and traveled extensively throughout the country, visiting each metropolis and many Philoptochos Chapters. She raised awareness of critical social issues facing American women of Greek descent, with special educational speakers and videos that promoted the enhanced role of Greek American women in the United States and the world at large. She traveled to Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) on several occasions to meet with His All Holiness, Patriarch Bartholomew, concerning Philoptochos and its various charities. Her goal was to expand the membership and services offered by Philoptochos.

Mimi and John Skandalakis led a truly mbeing held at 7pm. Funeral services will be held Tuesday July 3rd at 1pm at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral followed by the burial at Arlington Memorial Park. Online condolences may be made at hmpattersonspringhill.comagical life. They were invited to the dinner that Governor and Mrs. George Busbee gave for Prince Charles at the Governor’s Mansion in 1977. Friends of King Constantine of Greece, they were invited to his 50th birthday party, where Mimi was seated next to Prince Philip. They also traveled to London to attend the wedding of Prince Pavlos to Marie Chantalle Miller in 1995.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Skandalakis Library at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, 2500 Clairmont Road, Atlanta, Ga. 30329. The family will receive friends at Patterson Spring Hill Chapel Monday July 2, 2012 from 5-7pm with a prayer service being held at 7pm. Funeral services will be held Tuesday July 3rd at 1pm at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral