Elli Bambakidis, 74, of Fairborn, passed away Monday, October 22, 2018, in Cleveland after a courageous, inspiring battle with cancer.
Elli enriched the lives of many and was a true embodiment of the Greek word "Philotimo". Her legacy of warm hospitality and energetic devotion to her family, church, and community will be sorely missed. Elli was born in Symi, Greece to the late Stylianos & Evangelia Mondiadou.
Elli worked with Special Collections at the Wright State University Library and later was an Archivist for the Dayton Public Library for 20 years, where she published special collections and organized symposiums on Dayton history.
She was a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from Wright State University's Classics Department in 2008. Elli loved to share her culture as a Greek School Teacher at the Cleveland & Middletown Greek parishes, and at The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Dayton. As longtime member and supporter of Annunciation Church, she served with Daughters of Penelope #127, and during the 1980s led the Greek school and Greek Dance programs. Elli also volunteered at the Dayton Art Institute.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 48 years, Gust N.; parents, Stylianos & Evangelia Mondiadou; sisters, Anna Manolakis & Irene Vizentinis; brother, Nikitas Mondiadis; nephews, Michael Manolakis & (Godson) Frank Vizentinis; Gust's parents, Nicholas & Zopigi Bambakidis. Elli is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Dr. Nicholas and Kimberly, Reverend Deacon Steven and Jenny, Evan and Stacy; sisters & brother-in-law, Maria & Niko Alexopoulos, Stavroula Mylonopoulos; brother, Kyriakos Mondiadis; grandchildren, Eva, Costa, Peter, Ella, Lazarus, Leandros and Constantine; numerous loving nieces, nephews, cousins and Godchildren.
A funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, November 1, 2018 at The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 500 Belmonte Park North, with Father Joseph Gingrich officiating. Interment following in Woodland Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Marker & Heller Funeral Home, Huber Heights Chapel, 5844 Old Troy Pike on Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. with Trisagion Prayers at 5 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Legacy Fund, 500 Belmonte Park North, Dayton, Ohio 45405 or The Gust & Elli Bambakidis Scholarship Fund, c/o Wright State University Foundation, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Dayton, Ohio 45435 or online at https://www.wright.edu/give/bambakidis.
