H. Elaine "Eleni" Halkopoulos

1935 - 2016

HALKOPOULOS Ed.D, H. Elaine "Eleni" Helen Elaine Halkopoulos born in Boston City Hospital, July 3, 1935. Beloved daughter of Greek immigrants, Sevasti Tatarides Halkopoulos and Zaharias Leonides Halkopoulos. Elaine passed away peacefully at the Lahey Hospital in Burlington, with her daughter Andrea by her side, after a courageous battle from complications due to advanced ovarian cancer. Fondly referred to as 'HP" by her many East Boston High School students, Elaine grew up in the South End of Boston on Tremont Street, with her two sisters and her parents. She attended the Andrew School and later, the Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, where she liked to talk of how she was double promoted in 2nd grade. Her teen years were spent at Girl's High School, the oldest public school for girls in the country, graduating in 1952. She attended Boston University's College of Liberal Arts, where she majored in English, and then segued into BU's School of Fine and Applied Arts where in 1960, she received her Masters Degree in Directing with a Theatre Ed minor. Elaine embraced her college years and was a leader in the college community. The proud recipient of the Scarlet Key Award, she was a Gamma Delta Rep, V.P. of the Sigma Kappa sorority, co-secretary of the student council, Rush Chairman of the Pan Hellenic and in her Senior year, was entered into the prestigious list of Who's Who in America. In 1997, she went on to receive her Doctorate in Education (Ed.D) at the University of Massachusetts, where she received her degree from UMass President, Billy Bulger. In 1961, she simultaneously became a mother and a teacher, which began her motivation for a career path in education. She taught third grade at the Webster Elementary School in East Boston, and in 1962, she moved onto East Boston High School, where she spent nearly 40 years known as their beloved 'Miss HP', teaching English Language Arts, and later becoming Head of the English Department. While at EBHS, she also ran the Honors and Reading program, was Drama Club Advisor, Senior Class Advisor, a member of the Scholarship Committee, the Yearbook Committee and also founded the legendary Pro Schola program for the Seniors. She was also the cheerleading coach. Known at the high school as 'the legend', 'Miss HP' produced and directed the annual colorful and memorable Senior Class Day Show for over 30 years, where she magically transformed football players and the participating student body into singers and dancers. Due to her tireless efforts and her concern for her 'kids', many East Boston High School students went onto a secondary education, receiving scholarships to area colleges and universities. In 1998, she moved onto Charlestown High School, where she spent 5 years as Head of the English Department. She was known for her unique wit, her natural sense of style, her fierce independence, her unbridled sense of humor and her salt-of-the-earth honest approach to life. Some of her happiest times were at Cape Cod spending time with her daughter Andrea, her grandson Tyler, her sisters, and her companion Anthony J. Lori. A gifted painter, Elaine amazed many friends and family with her natural talent for painting gorgeous oil and water color pieces of art. She was President of the Eaton III Board at Ocean Edge in Brewster for 22 years and President of the Girls High School Committee for 15 years in which she was instrumental in securing college scholarships to needy area high school students. But Elaine's truly special times were during her retirement years, spending days with her beloved grandson Tyler. During her four-year battle with Ovarian cancer, even as it weakened her, she continued to handle every day with grace and acceptance. Elaine told her daughter Andrea that she equated her cancer with that of a flower garden. She talked about how, with some flowers, you do very little, and yet they still blossom. While other flowers can be watered and fertilized over and over again, and somehow, they still die. Sincere gratitude is extended to Elaine's many specialists and doctors at Brigham and Women and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, the ER staff at the Lahey Hospital, Beverly and the staff at the Lahey Hospital in Burlington, where Elaine spent the last days of her life surrounded by an extraordinarily compassionate group of nurses and doctors who did everything possible to provide her with comfort and care. She leaves a devoted, inspired and loving daughter, Andrea Hall (Halkopoulos) Phinney of Brookline and Beverly; an adored grandson, Tyler Zachary Phinney of Beverly; sisters Bella Baker and Aspasia Pappas of New Jersey and Connecticut; brother-in-law, Harry Pappas of Connecticut; and nieces and nephews from New Jersey, Connecticut, New York and California. In addition, she leaves her companion of over 35 years, Anthony J. Lori, of Everett, her many former co-workers, and her more than four decades of committed high school students. Elaine would have been extremely grateful for the outpouring of love, support and warmth that her daughter Andrea and grandson Ty have received from all of the caring people in their lives. Elaine will be cherished as an important part of so many people's lives, but she would want them to remember that they were equally as important to her. Her funeral service will be held at St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church, 5 Paleologos Street, Peabody, Tuesday, Dec. 6th at 11 a.m. Visiting hours at the Campbell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot Street, Beverly, on Monday from 3pm-7pm. Burial in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, West Peabody. Information, directions, condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com.

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