John Bligh
- Retired teacher
Helen C. Arvanitis, who taught at public schools in Harlem and Queens, died of coronavirus on Aug. 15, 2021, in Danbury, Connecticut. She was 95.
Helen earned a bachelor’s degree at Hunter College and a master’s at Columbia University, both in history. She dreamed of becoming a lawyer, but found her life’s calling in front of a classroom. After getting her start in teaching at the Greek American Institute, a middle school in the Bronx , Helen taught at PS 103 in Harlem, where she was born.
She met Ernie, her late husband of 63 years, at Columbia, and they had two children, Robert and Allison. After raising them in Astoria, Queens, Helen returned to the classroom. She taught 5th grade at PS 5 in Astoria until it burned down in 1967, and then at PS 17, also in Astoria, for more than 20 years. She retired in 1990.
Aside from her family, education was Helen’s greatest passion. She “left a deep, lasting impression on her pupils,” said her grandson, Christian Savage. “Her kindness and strong advocacy on behalf of her students changed hundreds of lives for the better.”
Former student Athena Fourniotis called Helen “a class act, through and through. We were so fortunate to have been taught by her and the true testament is that we remember her with love all these years later.” Rosa Aggelatou didn’t just remember. “I returned to visit her for many many years after I was grown up,” she said. Tammie Rienzi and Maria Gangi both said Helen was the reason they became teachers, while Argyro Kouma remembered, “As an immigrant in New York in the late 60s, she made me feel equal and accepted. Now I’m a teacher myself and try to inspire my students like she did for us!”
Helen always had an active social calendar, hosting family, friends and colleagues in her home. An advocate for love and matchmaking, she often bragged that she was responsible for several successful marriages.
As a retiree, Helen helped raise her four grandchildren. A consummate conversationalist who spoke five languages, she also enjoyed her favorite hobbies – dining, traveling, ballet and reading – and wrote poetry and essays that were published in local newspapers. In her 95 years, Helen never lost her zest for life, her grandson said.
In addition to Robert, and his wife, Celeste; Allison, and her husband, John; and Christian; Helen is survived by three other grandchildren, Alexandra, Zachary and Nikolas; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Condolences may be sent to
Allison Arvanitis
45 Stallion Trail
Brewster, NY 10509
or alioopsa@gmail.com. Donations in Helen’s memory may be made to the Regional Hospice of Connecticut or to Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, both in Danbury.
Wonderful Lady, wonderful Teacher! She is the only Teacher who’s name never escaped my mind. We moved to Astoria from the Bronx. I was doing very poorly in the Bronx schools. She cared enough to help me catch up to the others in our class. Eternal memory!