Leon Samuel Idas

Idas, Leon Samuel, passed away at his home on April 12, 2013. He was 87 years old. Leon was born July 11, 1925 in Athens, Greece to Samuel and Miriam Ioudas, aka Gabrielides. Leon's early life was interrupted by the invasion of his beloved homeland, by the Germans during World War 2. At the age of 16, Leon fled the Nazi fortified city of Athens and with forged documents and instructions from Underground Resistance Leaders, he and a friend joined the Partisans in the mountain regions of Greece to fight this occupation. Leon often told stories of firefights with the enemy and the difficulties to survive with very little food, being hungry, cold and the constant marching day and night to stay ahead of the enemy. Leon was a contributor to www.jewishpartisans.org and you can hear many of his stories in his own voice, by visiting their website. Upon the liberation of Greece by the Allied forces, Leon returned to his home in Athens, to discover that the German Nazis had deported and killed his parents and oldest brother, Gabriel, to the death camp Auschwitz. Leon joined the Royal Greek Army and served for six years. In 1951, an opportunity arose for Leon to immigrate to the United States. "God bless America, the greatest country on this earth", Leon would often say. Leon would spend the next 50 years making Baltimore, Maryland his home. Upon his arrival to Baltimore, Leon joined the Maryland National Guard and served as a Sergeant in the 5th Regiment for 5 years. In 1952, Leon married Ruth London and together they had three children, Samuel, David and Judy. Leon found his career work as a production supervisor for Shapiro & Whitehouse, Baltimore, who recycled used clothing and paper items. When Shapiro & Whitehouse closed operations in the 1970's, Leon started his own company called Royal Vintage Clothing. His company supplied valuable and rare antique clothing to stores throughout the world as well as to the filming stages of Hollywood and New York. Leon was well known throughout his industry as a specialist on Vintage Clothing and traveled extensively overseas. He appeared in articles titled, "Leon, The King of Rags" and in "His Kingdom" he was known as a "Rag-oligist" authority. He was comfortable anywhere and with anyone in any culture. He was always the center of attention in a crowd, party or event. He maintained a huge list of friends reaching from his childhood in Greece to the present. He always had great stories to tell and friends and family loved to hear these stories of his life and travels. In 1968, Leon married Elise Zalis, of Baltimore. In Leon's later life he spent summers in Samos, Greece, a North Aegean island, where he reminisced the good times of his childhood, when he would visit his grandparents Leon and Rachael Goldstein, owners of the local wine factory. Leon loved to just run around this small town and play among the wine caskets and machinery of this awesome family business. Leon's grandfather (Leon Goldstein) and great uncle (Albert Goldstein) are buried on this island in a private Israelite family cemetery, which Leon visited every year and solely took the unselfish responsibility of caring for. In the year 2000, Leon relocated to Lauderhill, Florida, from Baltimore. He made himself busy as the President of the Men's Club, where he lived and being a loving grandfather to his 5 grandchildren. Every Wednesday, Leon loved joining his expat Greek friends The Ahepans, at their weekly meeting at the Peter Pan Diner in Oakland Park. Leon is survived by his wife, Elise Idas; his three children, Samuel Idas, David Idas and Judy Novick; son-in-law, Jerold Novick and daughter-in-law, Carole Idas; his brother and sister-in-law, Salvy and Esther Gabrieli of Tel Aviv; five grandchildren, Sophie Novick, Max ldas, Bianca Idas, Max Novick, and Charlotte Idas; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews throughout the world. Donations may be made in the name of Leon to Jewish Family Services of Broward (www.jfsbroward.org) or Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation (www.jewishpartisans.org).