By Bill Parry
Astoria’s Greek community is mourning the loss of one of their greatest civic leaders.
Dennis Syntalis, who immigrated to the United States from Greece in 1956 and worked as an executive at Atlantic Bank, died Jan. 7 at the age of 85 after a long illness.
Before attending the wake at Quinn and Sons Funeral Home, state Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) remembered the founder of the Greek-American Homeowners Association.
“He was a very prominent leader of the community at a time when it didn’t have its footing like it does now,” Gianaris said. “He helped integrate all the new immigrants that flooded here in the early ‘70s. He was a vital link between Astoria’s new immigrants and their assimilation into American society.”
State Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas (D-Astoria) was one of those immigrants, arriving in Astoria as a newborn when her family settled in the Greek enclave.
“For decades, Dennis Syntalis volunteered his time and energy to make Astoria the special place that it is today,” Simotas said. “His lifelong commitment to educate his neighbors about Greek culture established him as a true pillar of the Hellenic-American community in Astoria. Mr. Syntalis was the living embodiment of civic responsibility and he made an indelible impact on this community for the better. He will be greatly missed.”
Syntalis helped create Athens Square at 30th Avenue and 31st Street. His Athens Park Initiative was part of the effort to raise more than $360,000 for an amphitheater, Greek-style columns and bronze statues of the philosopher Socrates and the goddess Athena.
City Councilman Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria), like Gianaris and Simotas, also grew up in Astoria’s Greek community.
“Dennis Syntalis was a great civic leader who helped make our Greek culture an enduring part of Queens culture,” he said. “His contributions to Astoria have been longstanding. He was a great example of civic engagement and responsibility throughout his community through his leadership of the Greek Homeowners Association. He also helped found Athens Square, which serves as a community cultural center with its beautiful Greek architecture and neighborhood events. We all miss his presence in Astoria and I extend my deepest condolences to his family.”
Syntalis is survived by his wife, Rita, daughter, Vayia, and their two grandchildren.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.
