Katina M. Perdaris

Age 93, Survived by children Eva (Ilias) Kyziridis, Pano (Effie) Perdaris; grandchildren Katie, Mik, Sophia. Preceded in death by husband Menalaos. Trisagion Monday, December 26, 2011, 7:00 p.m., Assumption Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 4610 East Alameda Avenue, Denver, CO 80246. Interment Albuquerque, NM. McDonald's Employee 20 years. Douglas County School Volunteer 14+ years. Member of The Daughters Of Penelope, Athena Chapter #1. American Legion & VFW Auxiliaries. 1998-2003 Recipient of the Presidential Sports Award for Martial Arts. 1998-2001 National Qualifier Multiple Gold Medalist and member of Team Martial Arts-USA International Competition 2000-20002. 2000 Forms-Divisional Gold & Overall Silver. 2001 Spirit Of The Games-Gold Forms-Bronze Weapons-Silver. Breast Cancer Survivor September 2001-Race For The Cure October 2001. January 2002 Martial Arts World Championships Venezuela, Forms-Bronze Weapons-Bronze Gold Award named after her-The Katina Award 2002 Hall Of Fame Inductee World Congress Of Martial Arts-Team USA Hall of Fame. July 2002 Omega's Summer Camp & Qualifier Tournament, Forms & Weapons-Gold & Grand Champion Trophy August 2002 Colorado State Games-Forms & Weapons-Gold Katina M. Perdaris was born in Greece on an island called Corfu (Kerkyra) in 1918. In her family, there were six sisters and one brother. She was the only one to ever make it to the United States. She attended school in her hometown and graduated with a degree in business, bookkeeping, and accounting. During her school years, she was very active in sports, and running was one of her strongest. In the late 1930's, Katina was selected from her hometown, the small island of Corfu, to be one of four sent to Athens to compete as part of the running team at what is now the famous olympic Stadium, in what was called the Pan Hellenic Games. These were the games from which many were chosen to represent Greece in the Olympic Games. She did not medal and was not chosen as a member of the Olympic team, but competed in the spirit of the games then, and now, as she left her mark in history. In the mid 1940's, through her family's connections, she was privileged to be a passenger on a government inaugural flight. England gifted two planes to the Government Royalty of Greece. It ended in disaster. One of the planes crashed, the one Katina was on. She was one of very few survivors with only minor injuries. Less tha 1/3 of the plane's occupants survived. Her best years as a youth were spent at war. It destroyed her home, village, and everything she had. As soon as the war was over she left Corfu and went to Athens to be with her sisters. She started corresponding with a young man in the US Army that she would eventually marry. He served in both the Greek and American Armed Forces in many wars. One of her dreams was to come to the United States. After many correpondences with this young man, he asked her to come to the United States and marry him. She knew her dream was about to come true. They had two children and three grandchildren. Her husband (Mike) passed away and she moved to Parker, Colorado to be with her children and grandchildren. Katina belonged to the Greek Orthodox Church, Senior Citizens Center, Daughters of Penelope, Ladies Auxiliary VFW, and the American Legion Auxiliary. She took aerobics, TaiChi, Karate, and walked every day. She worked at McDonald's and for the Douglas County School District. Katina holds a special ranking at Omega Martial Arts; Spirit of the Art Seniors Black Belt. She has been described as a White Belt with the heart of a Black Belt. Her advice to everyone, young and old is: You're Never Too Old Never give up on life It is never too late, win or lose, young are a winner if you try your best Be proud of yourself. Life is beautiful Love, Katina (AKA Yiayia) Senior Black Belt