Pericles Markakis

When you meet someone,

Who writes poetry, paints, loves music and the arts,

You are amazed.

I have met that man and was amazed.

When you meet someone,

Who speaks many languages, understands world issues and

contributes to the betterment of mankind,

You are impressed.

I have met that man and was impressed.

When you meet someone,

Who builds a family who truly loves each other and loves him,

You want to emulate that familial love.

I have met that man and attempt to emulate his love.

When you meet a man who amazes, impresses, inspires emulation

and is humble & kind,

You can only be grateful you met him and say "wow."

I have met that man .... wow.

This poem is dedicated to, & inspired by, Pericles Markakis

Kent Martini - May 8, 2015

Dr. Pericles Constantine Markakis, loving husband, father and grandfather and Professor Emeritus at Michigan State University, passed away on May 3, 2015. He was 95.

Perry is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 62 years, Georgia Markakis (Papathanasiou), daughters and sons-in-law Constance Markakis and Michael Mills of Bethesda, MD, Kathryn Markakis and Geoffrey Williams of Rochester, NY, and Anastasia Markakis Nye and Ronald Nye of South Barrington, IL, and grandchildren Alexandra, Pericles, David, Georgia, Artemis, Brandon, Cameron and Austin.

Perry was born in Cassaba, Turkey, near Smyrna, to Constantinos and Yeoryia Markakis on March 3, 1920. In 1922 when he was two years old, his family fled to Greece, following the war between Greece and Turkey and the post-World War I partitioning of the Ottoman Empire. He was raised in Thessaloniki and served twice in the Greek Army, first in the 1941 resistance against the Nazi invasion of Greece when he was captured and held as a prisoner of war for six months on the island of Crete. In the subsequent Greek Civil War he fought on the side of the National Army against the Communists. Through this tumultuous time, Perry in 1949 earned two undergraduate degrees, in agriculture and chemistry, from the University of Thessaloniki.

Perry first came to the United States in 1950 as a Fulbright scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He entered the University of Massachusetts in Amherst in 1951 to pursue graduate studies.

At his first course, his professor introduced him to an intelligent and spirited young Greek woman – the only female student in the classroom – who would become his great love and partner in life. Georgia and Perry married in 1953. He went on to earn a Masters and a Ph.D. by 1955.

Most of Perry's academic career was spent as a tenured professor of food chemistry for the MSU Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. He was the author of more than 100 scientific articles, reviews and papers — other scientists cited his work more than 130 times — as well as books in English, Greek and Spanish. His research focused on the chemical processes behind Green Revolution initiatives to increase agricultural production worldwide. Among his various explorations were the promise of the cassava root as a major global food source, physical factors contributing to the optimal refinement of olive oil, and the role and extraction of natural food colorants. During his tenure at MSU he traveled widely to speak at conferences and taught hundreds of graduate and undergraduate students from around the world; many remained in close contact with him throughout his life and invited him to their home countries for teaching, lecturing and consultation.

During his retirement Perry continued to write, speak and consult on food chemistry. He gave several lectures in Indonesia and was recognized for his consulting work with the Greek food industry. The University of Athens bestowed on him the prestigious title of honorary professor. Outside his professional interests, he and Georgia traveled extensively, spending winters at their second home in Athens and summers at their cottage on the Greek island of Naxos with their children, their families and their beloved extended family in Greece. While Perry remained intensely curious about all things scientific, he also turned to artistic pursuits. He took up poetry and painting, and along with Georgia was a devoted patron and supporter of the MSU Wharton Center for Performing Arts.

Perry was a gentle soul who lived and embodied the values common to Christianity and all major faiths — humility, compassion, concern for the human condition and social justice. He passed these values on to his children, grandchildren and many generations of students.

Visitation will be on Friday, May 8, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, 1730 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing, with Trisagion Prayers at 7 p.m. A service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1701 E. Saginaw Street, Lansing, officiated by Fr. Mark Sietsema.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to Project Hope for Greece,(http://projecthopeforgreece.com/) a philanthropic effort to assist the neediest at this time of economic crisis in Greece, or to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, would honor Perry's legacy.

On line condolences may be made at www.greastlansing.com.

To all those who loved my Perry,

Perry was 95 years old but age does not matter when it comes to your loved one.

Besides, he still had a sharp mind which was a comfort to me, but perhaps it was not

a blessing to him, though he never opened up to tell me of his fears, except for the

occasional times when he expressed worries about leaving me alone and knowing

that I would not go and be with any of my girls. And he was right!

The fact is that after 62 years of his undivided love, devotion and attention to me, I

now realize how spoiled I was and how much about my life I was taking for granted.

I had always thought of myself as strong and independent. Now I realize how much

strength I drew from Perry's presence and subtle support in everything I was doing.

I miss him waiting for me to return from the Supermarket, eager to help me with my

bags, and even after his strength had failed him he insisted on helping me by using

the seat of his walker as a carriage. He was always there when I returned from my

shopping sprees eager to see what I had purchased and always excited over my

purchases. He never denied me anything in life and was happy when I was happy

because I was for him the beginning and the end, a very gratifying but also

challenging role.

The fact is that we both had come to depend on one another and cherished each

other's company and support. Then, less than a year ago when Perry's health and

strength started failing, I was gratified that I was able to help him until eventually

caring for him became a way of life, and now that he is gone I miss him so much and

feel so painfully empty.

We had a blessed life together with our ups and early downs as all couples do, but it

was the downs that strengthened our relationship and the ups that filled us with the

bliss of triumph, accomplishment and happiness.

Perry, as I am sure you all agree, was a unique human being. He was a gentle and

kind soul. He cared deeply about people, and in a childlike naivety, he saw only the

good in people and never gave up hope for a better and just world. In all the years

that I had known him, I never heard him utter a harsh word about anyone. He lived

for his family and was proud of his three accomplished daughters, his three sons-in-

law whom he loved as his own and his eight bright and loving grandchildren.

He loved his profession, his books, his art and his students and friends all over the

world. To his former students he was not only their professor. He was their father-

away-from-home who inspired them and advised them of the importance of ethos of

character over their scientific goals, he was their mentor and their friend for life.

Now, they all mourn his loss and honor his memory with their messages of love,

respect and admiration for a life well spent. Some have even called to invite me to

spend time in their home to help me overcome my grief! What a great tribute to

their teacher! They have all described him so lovingly and candidly as Ita kind and

gentle soul, witty, sweet, intelligent, generous, compassionate, caring, loving." He

was indeed all that and more but above all he was humble, modest, unassuming and

so self-effacing that most people had never had a chance to know him well and

appreciate the extent of his goodness, patience, tolerance and love for human kind.

Yet, those who knew him well respected him for those same qualities of genuine

character and intellectual merit that had never affected his sense of modesty and

humility. And those were, indeed, the people who counted.

And these are the same people who felt his loss deeply in their hearts and will miss

him dearly. The low-profile Perry would have been downright humbled with all this

attention. Yet he has left us all with a great legacy to follow.

As I mourn his loss, I find comfort in that he lived a long, happy and rewarding life

and had a sharp mind and a wonderful quality of life to the end. Three days before

his hospitalization we attended a concert by the virtuoso violinist Itzhak Perlman.

A week later he left this world with dignity and a broad smile over his face,

surrounded by his loving family and in the arms of his "Georgie" whom he loved

more than his own life.

His loss has left a great void in our lives that will be hard to fill. We will miss him

painfully, but he will always be in our minds and hearts and lives no matter where

we go, or where we are and whatever we do.

We are truly thankful to God for His precious gift of him in our lives.

We also thank God for our loving extended family and friends and for all our faithful

former students all over the world, who gave him so much love, pride and joy in life.

~ His loving wife "Georgie"

We've all been spending a lot of time since Dad's passing immersing ourselves in his wonderful life - going through photo albums, reading letters from his students, gathering his many awards and honors, and of course preparing to share our memories with all of you here today.

But Dad never liked to have the spotlight on himself. He was the most humble person most of us will ever know. He was also a person who appreciated efficiency and economy - in his words and actions. His poems had simple names, like "Little Things," "Crystals," "Is Man Wise?" and "Love."

In that spirit, we offer some life lessons Dad can teach us all, delivered in a way he might have done. Let's call it: "How to Live to Age 95."

How to Live to Age 95

Marry a fellow scientist, someone who shares your passion for empirical reasoning, but who also inspires you to leave room for faith.

Marry a fellow music lover, who can play a beautiful Chopin mazurka and enjoy the Metropolitan Opera on Saturdays, but also takes you to the Wharton Center to see the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

Marry someone who will cook the best Greek homemade meals for the family every night, but do not hesitate to mix together two or more foods that most of us would not typically combine, because what really counts are the resulting nutrients, proteins and amino acids; as he would say "It all ends up in the same place."

Be a true mentor by providing immeasurable academic guidance as well as generous personal advice and support to students, which may result in Thanksgiving dinner resembling the United Nations.

Be so frugal and energy-conscious that you save gas by coasting to a red light to avoid making a full stop. But spend big-heartedly on your wife, daughters and other loved ones, especially on education, fine carpets, art and jewelry.

Rather than watch NFL football on a Sunday afternoon, take your family for a walk through the MSU gardens or take a car ride to Lake Lansing.

Fight for the Greeks against the Nazis and the communists in the hills in the 1940s, but also love German music and philosophy and subscribe years later to Soviet Life magazine as you believe in the ideals of Egalitarianism and you are curious about the socio-political experiment.

Establish your man~cave high above the Aegean, on the second floor of a beautiful cottage on the best island in Greece. This is where you will read, paint and watch gorgeous sunsets - until your wife calls you down to visit with family and friends on the veranda.

Keep up with world events on that veranda. Read about the end of apartheid in the International Herald Tribune and listen to the Voice of America when the Soviet Union collapses. When the Olympic torch comes to the island, make sure your grandchildren run into the Hora to see it pass by.

Encourage your grandchildren to gaze at the stars from that veranda through your telescope. And fill their heads with facts and curiosity about the universe, astronomy and mythology.

Travel to the far comers of the world - Africa, Asia, South America, Europe - to enhance your understanding and appreciation of other cultures and people.

Be among the earliest supporters of the civil rights movement and Dr. King. Watch the horrors and absurdities on the nightly news, without ever becoming cynical or doubting the power of the individual to do good in the world. Pass that trait onto your children and grandchildren.

Be as serious and accomplished as the most learned researchers, while also delighting in those who popularize science for the masses, like Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking.

Never stop being curious yourself, even in your nineties. Order a book on the Hubble space telescope that arrives two days before you join the cosmos.

And finally: After spending nine and a half decades pondering the dualities of reason and faith, express unfettered joy and a sense of peace when Father Mark arrives to visit you in your hospital room in your last days.

Dad, you lived a remarkable and inspiring life, despite your difficult beginnings. We thank you for encouraging us to expand our minds through education and open dialogue, nourish our souls through the arts and appreciation of nature, and strive to treat others with compassion, love and respect. We love you dearly, will miss you more than you could ever know and know that you will live on in our hearts and in the hearts of your grandchildren.

~Daughters Connie, Kathy, and Natasha

Words for Peri's grandchildren:

Papou taught by example. Everyone who knew him remarked on the kindness of his soul. He showed the dignity of gentleness. He taught us to behold life's simple pleasures, watching the sun sink toward the sea on Naxos and giving thanks for another day well-lived. Then setting up the telescope to watch the stars and rest in humility before the mysteries of the cosmos. Even in his final years, he demonstrated how wonder is an infinite resource and curiosity brings endless joy. His example has fueled the creative drives of an entire generation of Markakis children. We will miss you so much, Papou, and will keep your spirit in our hearts. ~ Alexandra Markakis Mills, 24

Hi Yiayia,

My parents told me Papou is feeling very ill and I wanted to reach out to you and send you my love. I can only imagine how hard this time must be for you, and I wish so much that I could be with you both for support. Papou has been such an inspiration to me, as well as all of his grandchildren. He taught me to be curious at an early age, and has always been the #1 supporter of my music. I could not ask for a more beautiful person to call my grandfather. Sending all my

love. ~ Georgia Markakis Mills, 19 (email from Prague)

It was wonderful that I was able to share my final AP Chemistry project with Papou. I loved hearing his opinions and enthusiasm for the project I worked hard on in a shared field of interest. His encouragement meant so much to me. ~ Pericles (Peri) Markakis, 21

One of Papou's most inspiring qualities was his balance. Reading his poems and looking at his paintings, you see immediately that Papou was compassionate and loving. But at the same time, his zeal for science inspires as well; you could see the wonder in his eye as he explained a concept he had surely thought through dozens of times before. One of his mottos, variously attributed by members of my family to the Buddhists and the Greeks, was “Everything except moderation in moderation”. Amazingly, Papou's love for science and compassion for people hardly seemed moderate at all, so much as expansive and inspiring. But the balance remained. And for this, all of us who knew Papou have learned the beauty of the world in more ways than one. ~David Markakis, 21

Papou's gentle soul, appreciation for the fine arts, and endless fervor for academia and knowledge are all aspects that I admire about him. I cannot express how blessed I feel to be his granddaughter, and to have come from such a beautiful family lineage and culturally rich background. Papou and Yiayia's devotion to each other is truly inspiring, and I can only hope to have a relationship as loving and long as theirs was. I know you will be watching over me as I

walk the stage for my graduation this year, Papou, and I hope I have made you proud. ~ Artemis Markakis, 18

Papou was always invested in my school work and studies. I remember watching science documentaries together and discussing the natural world with him. He instilled in me a thirst for knowledge. I am also thankful for the fun times playing pool, enjoying shows on the cruises and mostly talking and laughing on the veranda in Naxos. I will miss you very much. ~ Brandon Nye, 17

Papou has made my life wonderful. He has taught me to love and be kind to every person that I meet. That is what Papou did all throughout his life, and that caused every person he ever interacted with to love him, too. ~ Cameron Nye, 14

Most grandchildren would remember their grandfather as loving, caring, and kind. To me, Papou was all of those things and much more. I remember him as a scholar who was interested in learning everything he could, even into his 90s. I will remember Papou as a role model for learning and truly finding your passion and following it. No age could stop Papou from pursuing his passion for learning. ~ Austin Nye, 11