WASHINGTON, DC — The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) mourns the passing of its former chairman and advocate for the Greeks of Asia Minor, James L. Marketos, Esq. He passed away May 13, after living courageously with cancer for many years.

James Marketos served as Chairman of the American Hellenic Institute from 1997 to 2008 and served on its Board of Directors for over three decades. He helped produce AHIF’s documentary film documentary film, The Greek-American Operational Groups: Secret U.S. Forces in World War II Greece, about the Greek-American Operational Groups, secret teams of U.S. Army infantrymen who performed extra-hazardous duty behind Nazi lines in World War II Greece. At a special ceremony at the Greek Embassy on November 19, 2007, the Hellenic National Defense General Staff honored Marketos with a commemorative medal presented by U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England, who attended the ceremony.

Marketos also served as editor of the two-volume service, Doing Business in Greece: A Legal and Practical Reference Service, published by the Institute’s affiliated Foundation. He was a passionate advocate and researcher of the Catastrophe of Smyrna and wrote countless articles and presented his papers at several AHI commemorations of the first holocaust of the 20th century. He will always be remembered fondly by the American Hellenic Institute and its members as an exceptional individual who worked diligently to promote Hellenic ideals and commit to “remember Smyrna so that the world doesn’t forget Smyrna,” as he often said.

Marketos was partner in the Washington, DC law firm of Berliner, Corcoran & Rowe, LLP, specializing in corporate litigation in the trial and appellate courts. He was in private practice for more than four decades, was a member of the New York and District of Columbia bars and was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States and numerous lower federal courts. He began his legal career by clerking for the Honorable Vincent L. Broderick, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York. This followed receipt of his juris doctorate from New York University, where he was co-editor-in-chief of The Annual Survey of American Law and winner of the law school’s Vanderbilt Medal. He received his bachelor’s degree from Princeton University.

Funeral services will be held on May 24 at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral located at 36th Street and Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC. The viewing will be at the church beginning at 10 AM and the funeral service will follow at 11 AM.

In remembrance, AHI President Nick Larigakis said: “Jim Marketos was a tremendous asset to the AHI for decades, but more than that, Jim was a great human being and very close personal friend of mine. Jim will be remembered as a kind and gentle soul who always looked for the positive in every situation. For more than two decades, Jim’s exceptional even keeled professional expertise always provided AHI and me with very valuable and objective guidance in navigating a myriad of issues that would come up. I depended heavily on Jim for sound advice, and AHI is in a much better place today because of Jim’s decades of service as an invaluable board member. He will be sorely missed. On behalf of the entire AHI And AHIF board of directors. I extend to Denise, and his son, Alex, my sincerest and deepest sympathies. May His Memory Be Eternal!”