Mary F. Smyrniotis

Mary (Fethroula) Maggina, was born on October 19, 1936, in Patras Greece. In 1954, she moved to live with her Aunt Toula, in St. Louis, Missouri, where she enrolled in Art School and where she met Dr. Fotios Smyrniotis, who was born in Platanos Greece July 20, 1922. Mary and Fotis fell deeply in love and were married in St Louis in 1955. They moved to Cincinnati where they had two beautiful daughters, Nia and Toula.

Mary supported her husband, Dr. Smyrniotis, in building flourishing practices in multiple cities. Both Mary and Fotis remained active throughout their lifetimes in the Order of AHEPA (American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association). But Mary’s talents came from being a natural accomplished Artist. She was heavily involved with both her daughters’ personal and school developments and in the developments of the communities they lived in. At her daughter’s schools, Mary was Homeroom Mom as well as Brownie and Girlscout Troup Leader. She was deeply involved with Musical Civic Theater Productions and fundraisers for local hospitals through Tri Kappa Sorority. Mary used her exquisite artistic talent to build and handpaint 40’ backdrops which were used in both the productions of 42nd Street and South Pacific. When the Russian Ballet came to town – it was Mary who had the expertise to embellish their performance costumes.

As her daughters started their own families, Mary devoted herself to Fotis’ dreams of carrying on the Smyrniotis name and their Greek roots. Mary built a house from the ground up in Fotis’ hometown on the seaside of Platanos. She designed every inch made from marble and every step including the grandest multilevel garden. Almost every summer, Mary’s kids and grandkids would visit the home. Mary was known and loved by every person in Platanos.

Mary truly lived a full and complete life – as a brave immigrant traveling to the United States alone, falling in love with Fotis who idolized her every step and move, giving birth to two beautiful daughters Nia and Toula, and having contributed to the lives of so many in ways which only so few have had the ability to contribute.

Mary is survived by her daughter Nia, and her three children (Kayla, Evan, Lexie); and her daughter Toula and her two children (Lizzy and Hanna).  Her grandchildren each were the light of her life and Yiayia was the light of their lives.  Every moment with her was filled with love, songs, and endless laughter. Mary is also survived by her two great grandchildren, Lennox and Margaret.

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