NEW YORK – Panagiotis (Peter) Makrias, founder and editor of the monthly magazine Estiator, has died in New York at the age of 87.

The late Makrias was editor-in-chief of Ethnikos Kirikas (National Herald) for sixteen years until 1979. He was a close associate of the newspaper’s former publisher Babis Marketos. After that he published the “New York” magazine and then established Estiator magazine, which he published and directed for the past   32 years and which specializes in the catering and restaurant industry.

Founded in 1988, Estiator (The Restaurateur) is the only magazine with a national circulation addressed to Greek-Americans in the foodservice industry (restaurants, coffee shops, pizzerias, cafes, and bars). Written by industry professionals, the magazine informs and educates the restaurant operator.

The late Peter Makrias was born on the island of Chios, Greece on June 28, 1932 of parents who had come from Asia Minor. He completed 60 years in journalism, 58 of them in the United States. He had graduated from Panteion University of Athens Greece where he studied political and economic sciences and started his journalistic journey in the local newspapers in Chios, Proodos and Chiakos Laos. Later he became their correspondent in Athens.

In Athens he published the monthly newspaper Chiaki and was editor in chief of the Navtiliaki newspaper from 1958 to 1960. He was also a correspondent of the newspaper Elefterotypia of Athens.

With his wife they have two daughters, Stephani  and Olga. Stephani Makris will be the new president of Estiator magazine.

(Photo: Estiator Magazine)

From left: Mike Zapitis, Peter Gazouleas and Peter Makrias.

(Photo: Estiator Magazine)

The late Peter Makrias.

(Photo: Estiator Magazine)