During this period, Jimmy returned to Greece hoping out-of delivering their history sibling, Panagiotis, back into the united states
After their release regarding the provider for the 1958, Jimmy joined his sibling Tony and you will did in the some dining during the the latest San francisco area. Children pal and previous resistance fighter back into Greece, Aris Zavitsanos, are teaching Greek at the Safety Language Institute inside Monterey. He contacted Jimmy along with his sibling out-of a restaurant on the market about short agriculture society regarding Watsonville, only south from San francisco. Soon after one to, Jimmy and Tony purchased a second cafe, the fresh new 24/7 Steakhouse during the close Pajaro. Jimmy jokes when he recalls those times. “In the event the taverns signed, many of their customers carry out are in for eating. ”
There are moments the authorities must be entitled if drunken customers carry out step out of give
“Brand new Greek Orthodox Church has long been a gathering spot for Greeks during the a residential area,” said Jimmy. “Novices to a location could go indeed there and you can meet almost every other Greeks and you may we had demonstrate to them to and help her or him score settled.”
While he are seeing, certainly one of Jimmy’s uncles removed your aside and you may whispered so you can Jimmy, “You should get married. You will find four qualified ladies throughout the community,” and you can arranged having your to get to know the ladies. Jimmy consented, but their brother educated him “not state one thing” so he could subtly favor a bride-to-be. Jimmy’s upcoming girlfriend, Eleni, is actually one of many five qualified young ladies. Immediately following a-one-week courtship, Jimmy jumped issue and additionally they had partnered on 26, 1963. Jimmy returned to the us to get the willow mobile paperwork you’ll need for Eleni so you’re able to immigrate and you may she registered him two months later on.
Shortly after its relationships when you look at the Greece, Jimmy and you will Eleni returned to the usa and you will compensated within the Watsonville, Ca, various other small agriculture area on 30 kilometers of Salinas in the Santa Cruz County. In the 1966, Jimmy are reunited together with youngest cousin, Tasos, whom together with decided to settle in Watsonville along with his partner, Theodora. Jimmy and Eleni increased two girl, Anna and you will Sophie. The couple stayed dedicated to the newest Greek Orthodox believe and went on attending St. John the fresh new Baptist from inside the Salinas, in which both of its daughters was indeed baptized.
Just like the Greek society regarding Monterey Bay became, Jimmy and his awesome family members continued working in the latest cafe business and produced the new a lot of time push to Salinas every Sunday to go to church. Brand new Greeks which lived and you can did for the Watsonville started to discuss how-to introduce a chapel closer to house. Talks about how best to establish an alternative parish became a whole lot more centered. A week business conferences took place in addition to number of people within this type of meetings grew. On mid-seventies, Jimmy, Tony, and about three someone else per provided $5.00 and you may unsealed a bank checking account to start preserving the money needed seriously to establish a new Greek Orthodox parish neighborhood. It absolutely was known as Missionary Chapel away from Santa Cruz Condition.
This key group of Greeks relentlessly sought after property to own the newest church. Increasing money was a priority. They kept picnics, organized cook sales, things they may do in order to increase money towards cause. All of these occurrences took place on Harvey Western Park inside Santa Cruz, also it try around your Greek Festival originated. Judge strategies were brought to expose the newest parish, although Santa Cruz Greek area however cannot pick an excellent domestic due to their chapel.
Inside the 1979, new Greek Orthodox bishop within the San francisco bay area tasked Father John Karastamatis in order to head the latest Santa Cruz congregation, and you will an earlier priest and his spouse Anastasia began to participate on the lookup. “We possibly may check out churches from most other denominations to hang the attributes,” Jimmy said. “Everywhere we are able to enter, we’d go.” One of the metropolitan areas commonly used is actually new chapel on university of the Monterey Bay Academy, a seventh-day Adventist personal school close Watsonville.
