Peter George Kousaleos

Peter George Kousaleos, age 92, died June 25 2017 at St. Ann's Mount Carmel Palliative Care unit. He was a first generation Greek, bi-lingual, and practiced his first language throughout his long life. As a young man, he joined the army and fought in WWII in the Pacific. Following the war, he joined a family, who operated a restaurant and the Orange Bowl concession in Miami FL. However, he eventually discovered his true vocation: teaching. He taught African American and Native American literature in the OU English department for many years. During his tenure he received recognition for his outstanding teaching by winning the University Teaching award (3 times) as well as the Grasselli award for excellence in teaching. As part of his two sabbaticals, he taught in Denmark for a year; during his second leave, he lived for six months on the Jicarilla Apache reservation in NM.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sharon, and four children: Karen Markopulos Kousaleos (Tarpon Springs FL), George Kousaleos (Tallahassee FL), Nicole Serena Kousaleos (Bloomington IN), and Jon Kousaleos (Long Bottom OH). He is also survived by several brothers and sisters-in-law and their children plus his daughter-in-law, Pat Kousaleos of Tallahassee, as well as eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. All of his great-grandchildren reside in FL. In addition, he leaves behind many former students and friends, especially his Friday lunch bunch.
A celebration of his life will be held August 5, 3:30 PM at the Athens Unitarian Fellowship Hall, 184 Longview Heights, Athens