Min Karras Ricard

Min Karras Ricard was born on January 11, 1932 in Washington D.C. at Sibley Hospital to parents Nick Karras and Anna Fliakas Karras. She was the younger sister of Mary Karras Agrusti (born January 1929). Anna Fliakas immigrated from Velvendos Greece and joined many relatives who settled in the Washington D.C. area in 1920. She later married Nick Karras (originally Karrakitchous) who was also from Velvendos. The family grew up in Washington D.C. For her formative years, Min grew up on 1804 Kalorama Road (a 1 bedroom apartment above her parents’ restaurant – The Warrington). The family moved to 1735 Hobart Street NW and she attended John Quincy Adams Elementary School, Powell Junior High and Central High School (graduated class of 1950). She graduated Bowling Green State University in 1954 with sociology major degree and a recreation minor. She received her Master’s Degree from George Washington University in 1961 in Guidance and Counseling.

Her first job was in the Grand Rapids Michigan school system from 1954-1955 as a physical education teacher at the elementary school level. She moved back to the Washington D.C. area and worked as a physical education teacher at Suitland High School in Prince George’s County. She continued her career as a guidance counselor at Central High School between 1961 and 1963. She married William Joseph Ricard from Golden, Colorado on August 23, 1963. Min and Bill moved to Dearborn, Michigan where Min worked as a high school guidance counselor in Livonia Michigan. Their first child, Kathryn Ann Ricard, was born in June 1965 in Livonia, Michigan at St. Mary’s Hospital. Shortly after Kathryn’s birth, Min and Bill moved to Ridgewood, New Jersey for Bill’s job in New York City (with a brief stop in San Francisco, California). In March 1968, their second child, William Joseph Ricard, Jr. was born at Ridgewood Hospital. They moved to Potomac, Maryland in April 1970. Min returned to work in Prince George’s County at Largo High School as a guidance counselor from 1973 until 1983. In the fall of 1983, Min began her career in the Frederick County Public School system, starting at Monocacy Middle School as a school counselor. In 1985, Min transferred to Frederick High School working as a guidance counselor until she retired in 2004. Bill and Min bought a condo in Ocean City, Maryland at the Pyramid in the summer of 1989. After Bill passed away in October 2001, Min was elected onto the Pyramid Board of Directors in October 2002. She served as a Board member and as Treasurer for many years until she retired from the Board of Directors in the fall of 2024.

Min was an avid tennis player (as a sneaky left handed player) in the summers of the 1970s and into the early 1980s. In retirement, Min filled her days with her walking groups, breakfast groups, exercise groups, dinners with friends and with her work on behalf of the Pyramid Condominium. At each stage of her life, she collected and held new friends for life. She dedicated her life to her family – children and grandchildren. Her most treasured role was as a yiayia to her three granddaughters. She beat breast cancer at the age of 80 and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and a recurrence of breast cancer in October 2023. Min and her family are grateful for the tremendous care she received at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She fought valiantly and died peacefully surrounded by family on February 5, 2025. Min was predeceased by her husband Bill and sister Mary. She is survived by her children Kathryn Ann Ricard (Greg Gromada) and William Joseph Ricard, Jr. and three granddaughters, Athena Sophia, Alexa Grace and Eliza Antigone Gromada. She is also survived by her nephews Nick and Christopher Agrusti and many beloved cousins.

A funeral service will be held on Friday February 14, 2025 at 12 p.m. at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 2815 36th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007. A visitation for family and friends will be held at the cathedral starting at 11 a.m. on February 14, 2025. Burial will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 13801 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20906, following the service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Saint Sophia Cathedral Memorial Fund or to a charity of your choice.

Everlasting be her memory.