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LOWELL — The Demetrios P. Karamanolis Scholarship Fund, established in 2024 through a generous six-figure bequest administered by the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, commemorates the life of Demetrios Karamanolis.
Karamanolis immigrated to America in 1960, married his wife Sofia Masias, and forged a path “from factories to labs where his precise, detail-oriented mind and expert dexterity served him well,” recalled Maria Kontoulis Recco, his niece and a retired laboratory scientist.
In 1969, Karamanolis, affectionately known as “Jimmy,” brought his family — including his mother, three siblings, their spouses, and their 11 children — from Greece to Lowell. He emphasized to the children the importance of education, hard work, and opportunities not as readily available in their family’s agricultural life in Greece, where they harvested olives, figs, and grapes. All the children went on to become college graduates or successful business owners.
Despite his modest stature, Karamanolis was renowned for his quick wit, keen intellect, appreciation for beauty and craftsmanship, and passion for antique collecting and gardening. He was also celebrated for his generosity and community spirit, exemplified by an additional bequest to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in Dracut to aid in paying its mortgage.
Recco shared the words of encouragement or wisdom Karamanolis might share with the scholarship recipient receiving his award, “Remember your family and your roots, work hard and give back to society.”
Karamanolis was a lifelong learner who cherished his Greek American community and valued education, though he never had the opportunity to pursue further studies himself. This scholarship fund, open to Greater Lowell Technical High School and Lowell High School graduating seniors of Greek descent with a 3.3 GPA or above and financial need, honors his commitment to supporting education, preserving cultural heritage, and acknowledging academic achievement. His legacy, and the enduring impact of his values, lives on through the Demetrios P. Karamanolis Scholarship Fund, connecting us all in a shared legacy.
“GLCF is honored to be able to facilitate the Demetrios P. Karamanolis Scholarship Fund,” said GLCF President and CEO Jay Linnehan. “Connecting donors to community causes they care about or ways to honor their loved ones is at the heart of our work.”
The Greater Lowell Community Foundation provides opportunities for you to create a fund and establish a lasting charitable legacy. To learn more about these empowering opportunities at GLCF, contact Jay Linnehan or to learn more about creating your own LHS Legacy Scholarship, contact Barbara Dunsford at 978-970-1600 or info@glcfoundation.org.
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