James I. Lambrinides, 84, painted murals depicting Greek mythology that graced restaurants in Chicago's Greektown
Hoodoo
December 23, 2004
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/obituaries/
James I. Lambrinides painted murals depicting Greek mythology
that graced restaurants in Chicago's Greektown, and he created
religious icons for churches in Greece. He was an artist who
emphasized color and light and an appreciation for nature. Mr.
Lambrinides, 84, died Saturday, Dec. 18, of complications from
bladder cancer at his home in Sauganash. Born in Eressos, a small
village in Greece, Mr. Lambrinides studied singing at a
conservatory in Athens. A tenor, Mr. Lambrinides once sang with
famed opera singer Maria Callas. In the 1950s, he immigrated to
the U.S. Mr. Lambrinides made the transition to painting,
studying at the Art Institute, said his daughter, Antigoni
Lambrinides-Sofios, a Chicago Public Schools art teacher.
Starting in the 1970s, he taught oil and watercolor painting at
the City Colleges of Chicago. Mr. Lambrinides amazed his students
with his brush strokes and ability to fix mistakes within
minutes. Mr. Lambrinides enjoyed serenading friends and
emphasized how art lets individuals express their emotions. "He
was a very romantic soul," his daughter said. Other survivors
include three sisters, Anna Americanos, Filisia Drakoulis and
Katina Metaxa; a brother, Miltiades; and two grandsons. A mass
will be said at 10 a.m. Thursday in St. Andrew Greek Orthodox
Church, 5649 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago.
--
“There are only forty people in the world, and five of them are
hamburgers.” — Captain Beefheart