NEW YORK – The Manhattan Chapter of the Order of AHEPA Delphi # 25 hosted a Gala dinner event in honor of the Honorable Judge Nicholas G. Tsoucalas, celebrating a pillar of the Greek-American community with more than 50 years of public service and 38 years on the bench.

Judge Tsoucalas was also honored for his lifetime of service to the Order of AHEPA and having served as a past President of the Manhattan Chapter.

The Gala took place on September 27 at the Loeb Central Park Boathouse – East with over 200 guests present to honor and celebrate the achievements of Judge Tsoucalas.

The invocation was delivered by Father Nicholas Anctil of Holy Trinity Church in New Rochelle who noted, “We are here to honor a great man from the greatest generation.”

George Eliopoulos- Chairman of the event organizing committee and member of the Board of Directors of AHEPA #25 welcomed everyone to the event, thanking all those in attendance.

Chapter President Argyris Argitakos also gave his greetings and noted that the net proceeds of the events would go towards scholarships for Greek-American law students at the New York Law School, Judge Tsoucalas’ alma mater.

The $2,000 scholarship will be given in the judge’s name ensuring that future generations of law students will continue his legacy.

Another $2,000 was donated in the judge’s name to veterans programs of AHEPA, a cause near to his heart since the Judge Tsoucalas is a veteran of World War II and Korea.

Keynote speaker AHEPA Supreme President Andrew C. Zachariades spoke about movingly about the judge who has mentored and inspired so many lawyers and judges, noting that he is “someone to aspire to.”

AHEPA Chairman of the Board of Trustees Nicholas Karacostas presented the honoree, noting that Judge Tsoucalas, “never forgot where he came from and who helped him.”

Karacostas also noted that Judge Tsoucalas was always “at the forefront of Greek-American issues” and those in the legal profession “owe him a debt of gratitude for all his efforts.” “I’m an attorney today because of Judge Tsoucalas,” Karacostas said.

The AHEPA #25 officers were called to stand up for the presentation of the Presidential Proclamation which was read by Supreme President Zachariades. Tsoucalas spoke briefly to thank everyone for the event and the honors bestowed on him.

He handed the microphone to his daughter Georgia Argyrople who also thanked everyone for the beautiful event that meant so much to her father and the family.

She held up her father’s original AHEPA certificate from 1953 and a photograph of her grandfather at an AHEPA event, noting that “Pappou was also a member of AHEPA.”

Also in attendance at the event were several members of AHEPA District 6 including District Governor Ted Stamas, Director of Hellenism Louis Katsos- President/Founder EMBCA, President AHI New York, Director of Membership James B. Zafiros, and Director of Philanthropy Petros Ragoussis.

AHEPA brothers Dr. George Liakeas- President of the Hellenic Medical Society of New York (HMSNY), Gus Lambropoulos- Chairman of Partners in Medical Practice, Executive Board Member HMSNY and Assistant Treasurer of the Federation of Hellenic Societies, and Dr. Sotirios Stergiopoulos were also present to honor Judge Tsoucalas.

On December 18, 1953 a young attorney at the start of his career in private practice and later to become a prominent Federal Judge in the U.S. District Court of International Trade, Nicholas Tsoucalas, was initiated into AHEPA # 25; he would eventually serve as President of the Chapter and continue as a Life member.

The Delphi 25 Chapter continues the tradition of AHEPA’s ideals and values of promoting education and Hellenism through many efforts of public service and philanthropy.

Judge Tsoucalas and his wife Catherine (Aravantinos) Tsoucalas were married in 1954. They have two daughters, Stephanie Turriago, a teacher in the New York public schools, and Georgia Argyrople, an attorney who has worked for the American Cancer Society.

Judge Tsoucalas also has five grandchildren, Victoria, Nicholas, Catherine, Vivian, and Christina.