Stephen W. Pournaras

Stephen W. Pournaras passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family, at his home in McLean, Virginia on May 16, 2020, at age 100. Originally from Providence, Rhode Island, Stephen was born on November 22, 1919 to the late Nicholas and Helen Pournaras. He had three siblings, Nicholas, Eugenia (Pashalides) and Charles, all preceding him in death.

Steve attended Classical High School in Providence and graduated at the age of 16, all while playing basketball and working at his father's restaurant. He worked for a year and a half earning money for college and eventually enrolled at Brown University, where he was an honors scholar student, a Varsity basketball player and awarded Sigma Si in Mathematics, the equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa. He later received his Masters in Meteorology from the University of Chicago. Steve served in the Army Air Corps in WWII in the European Theatre and thereafter for twenty years in the Air Force. He was stationed in Mobile, Alabama, Shreveport, Louisiana, and in Tokyo, Japan in the mid-1950's and participated in the Joint Task Force Eight before retiring as a Colonel in 1965. Steve moved his family to McLean in 1958 an after attending George Washington University Law School in the evening, opened his own law practice in McLean, where he practiced until reluctantly retiring five years ago at the age of 95 and giving up his driver's license.

Steve's wife, the former Antonia "Nina" Pappas, who died in 1993, was a native Washingtonian, growing up in Georgetown. Steve and Nina, both of Greek Orthodox descent, met in the summer of 1946 at the Ahepa Convention in Baltimore, Maryland and where married in September 1947 at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Their oldest child, Georgia and her husband, George, reside in Palm Beach, Florida and Baltimore, Maryland and have three children, Paul (Stephanie), Stephanie Goulakos (Chris) and Greg, and three grandchildren, Katherine and George Stamas, and Georgia Goulakos, residing in Washington D.C. and New York City. Their oldest son, Dr. Stephen W. Pournaras, Jr., is an orthopedic hand surgeon in Northern Virginia. Steve's wife Christine and their three children, Stephen III, Michael, and Diana, reside in Washington, D.C. and New York City. Steve and Nina's youngest son, William founded his successful computer company Netsphere, Inc., 25 years ago in McLean. Bill and his wife Susan, whom he lost earlier this year, have twin daughters, Lila and Nina. Steve also leaves behind his brother-in-law Dr. Stephen S. Pappas, who he considered more of a brother than an in-law, and his wife, Ginny, and their children, Stephen (Michelle) and Adrienne Kalavritinos (Jack).

Steve received numerous Medals of Commendation for his military service, including the Bronze Star. He will join his wife Nina at Arlington National Cemetery. Steve was a lifelong member of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, a onetime Board member, and the boys' basketball coach at St. Sophia for several years. He loved playing tennis, was an avid golfer until the age of 95 and was a member of the Washington Gold & Country Club for 45 years. Steve's principal hobbies were whatever interested his children, his eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, who all loved spending time with their loving "Papou". He set a wonderful example for all to follow and was always available to lend support, advice, or a helping hand. He was a true gentleman in every respect.

Steve's funeral service will be held at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington. D.C. on December 7, 2020 at 8:30 AM. Followed by his interment at 11:00 a.m. at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. Due to the current COVID -19 pandemic and the governmental restrictions on gathering, his funeral will be private.

In lieu of flowers or other remembrance, the family asks that contributions be made to St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

May his memory be eternal!