The Daughters of Penelope is saddened to learn of the passing of Sister Betty Athanasakos, of Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Sister Betty was Past Grand President of the Daughters of Penelope 1965-1966. She was also a 65 year member of the DOP Narcissus Chapter No. 289 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Sister Betty, a practicing civil lawyer in Florida since 1958, was the first female municipal judge in Broward County, Florida. She was appointed by President Richard Nixon on October 1, 1969, to serve on the Task Force on Women’s Rights and Responsibilities.
The Daughters of Penelope Salute to Women was founded by Past Grand President Honorable Betty Athanasakos and Past Grand President Joanna Panagopoulos Merakos. The idea was conceived in 1965 to promote the Daughters of Penelope as a major National and International Woman’s Philanthropic Organization. Since the Daughters of Penelope had proven to be a dynamic force in their local communities and was making a stir throughout the U.S., Canada, and Greece. Past Grand President Athanasakos recommended the Daughters of Penelope recognize an outstanding woman outside of the organization. Four years later, Grand President Merakos adopted the idea to honor a woman who represented and possessed the goals and ideals of the Daughters of Penelope and the “Salute” became a reality.
Please click here to view a recent interview with Past Grand President Betty.
The visitation will take place Sunday evening, August 7, at the Funeral Home in Ft. Lauderdale. The funeral will take place on Monday, August 8, at St. Demetrius Greek Orthodox Church of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (820 NE 14th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304).
May her memory be eternal.
