Dr. Velonis, was born in the island country of Samos (now a part of Greece) in 1906, passed away on February 20, 2007. He was the youngest of 12 children born to George and Georgia Velonis; and one of seven siblings in the family who immigrated to the United States.
After attending medical school in Greece and Boston, Dr. Velonis practiced medicine with the US Public Health Service, where he served as the Administrator of an Indian Reservation hospital near and during the construction of the Grand Coulee dam in Washington. During his tenure with the US Public Health Service, he married Helena Ross from Northampton MA. Shortly thereafter, he was called to active duty in the United States Army; and ultimately, with the invasion forces, went into France on D-day plus one and served in Munich, Germany where he was the commanding officer of an Army hospital.
His military career was most fascinating, having met and served under Generals Eisenhower and Patton, the latter personally field promoting him to Lt. Colonel for his innovative medical triage of soldiers as the war in Europe was ending. During his military service, he met and treated both General and Mamie Eisenhower as well as the famous nun, Sister Hummel, creator of the Hummel figurines. After World War II, Dr. Velonis remained active in the US Army reserve unit in Spokane, WA and retired as a Colonel. No one was ever more proud of serving his country.
He began his private medical practice in the Spokane Valley community where he practiced obstetrics for more than 40 years, delivering over 10,000 babies; he always boasted that he never lost a child or a mother. In the course of his medical practice he became an inventor, creating and patenting disposable medical examination gloves that replaced heavy rubber gloves that needed to be sterilized and reused.
Dr. Velonis was widowed in 1961 when his loving wife, Helena, passed away. He is survived by many lifelong friends in Spokane, and numerous nieces, nephews and their families, many of whom celebrated his 100th birthday with him in Charlotte, NC in 2006. In the Charlotte, NC area he is survived by his niece Andie Hatjioannou, who served as his health care provider and with whom he lived for the last several years, as well as nieces/nephews, Nick and Chrisoula Miller, George and Pauline Velonis. In the Cleveland, Ohio area he is survived by niece Joanne and Angelo Karuzos. In the Pittsburgh, PA area by niece Georgia Yamalis. In the Boston area he is survived by nieces/nephews, Artemis Kandianis and George Velonis of Peabody, Jessie Maharris of Middleton, James Velonis of Danvers, MA, John Tsouvalas of Danvers, and the family of the late Greer Economou of Marblehead.
At his request the services were private and his remains were buried in Spokane, Washington.
