James C. Stathis

James C. Stathis, born Dimitri Efstathopoulos on May 21, 1931, in Constantinople (Istanbul), Turkey, died on Saturday, December 12, 2020, in Atlanta, Georgia, of complications from a stroke. He is survived by his wife and partner of 63 years, Alice (nee Aliki Athanasiades); his son, Dean (Constantine); his daughter, Mary (Maria Batty); his son-in-law, Ward Batty; his grandson, Bill (William Stathis Batty); his sister, Arto Kutelidis (whose son Dimitri died in his 20s); his brothers-in-law, Basil Kutelidis and Alex Athanasiades, and his sister-in-law, Maria; his nieces, Katie Kutelidis and Magdaleni Athanasiades; his nephew, Nick Athanasiades, and Nick’s wife Zsuzsi and sons Alex and Dimitri; Steve Sexton and his extended Midtown family; and his goddaughter, Brenda Davis.

Jim was handsome, charming, and utterly self-made. Much as Archie Leach created Cary Grant, Dimitri created James C. Stathis. He would have liked that analogy. His mother, Maria, died before he was old enough to read, and he suffered until his father remarried. He was fiercely loyal to and protective of Katerina and the family she created for him. Her father paid for Dimitri’s primary education in an English-speaking school. Years later, as Jim paid for college educations and advanced degrees for Alice, Dean, Mary, and Bill, he would say, “This is how he wanted me to repay him.” For all the tuition he paid, however, Jim was largely self-taught.

He was smart and responsible from a very young age and worked hard to educate and improve himself. He and Alice always had many irons in the fire, looked for opportunity shrewdly, and seized it with optimism. Some ventures failed quietly, some dramatically, but others prospered, some quietly, some dramatically. He was a company man at Lincoln National Life and John Hancock for decades until he wasn’t, but by then he and Alice had built something of their own.

He had a temper, but he had a soft heart. He was forgiving, decent, and generous with his time, money, and wisdom. He loved his adopted country, the ocean, boats and marinas, cruises, and casinos. Boy, did he love casinos! He loved stats and betting, luxury and fun, piled-high deli sandwiches and chocolate cake. He loved puppies and babies and cookies and giving cookies to puppies and babies. He believed in kindness and integrity and was a blessing and an inspiration to everyone who knew him.

In lieu of flowers or donations, the family asks that you take care of your loved ones and those who depend on you in these difficult times. That’s what Jim would have wanted.