[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 48 (Thursday, March 25, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E558-E559]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN HONOR OF TOM AND PAUL CALAMARAS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 25, 1999

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Tom and Paul Calamaras. They were honored on November 20, 1998, as 
``Men of the Year'' by the Broadway-Astoria Merchants & Professionals 
Association at their 18th Annual Dinner Dance at the Crystal Palace.
  Tom and Paul Calamaras, the owners of the Crystal Palace and Oyster 
Bay Catering Hall, have played an immensely significant role in New 
York City's Greek-American community.
  The history of the Calamaras family is the story of the American 
Dream. Thomas, Paul, and their sister, Eleni, were born in Sparta to 
Despina and John Calamaras. When the children were still young, John 
came to the United States to support his family. He worked at the 
Oyster Bay Restaurant, first as a dishwasher and later as a chef. In 
1944, John opened a small coffee shop on the Lower East Side.
  John, who was not a citizen, was finally able to bring his family to 
the United States in the late 1940s. The Calamaras family ran the 
coffee shop, and when the restaurant next door became available, they 
expanded the restaurant into the Blue Sea Restaurant.
  In 1957, Paul returned to Greece where he met and married Mary 
Stefanos Resiopoulos of Athens. They returned to the United States in 
1958. Today, they live on the north shore of Long Island with their 
three sons, John, Stefanos, and Athanasios.
  In 1959, Tom also returned to Greece where he met and married 
Aphrodite Christopoulos of Kalamata. They currently live on the Upper 
East Side of Manhattan.
  In 1959, John, Paul and Tom purchased the Oyster Bay Restaurant, 
John's first place of employment in the United States. The Oyster Bay 
joined the Blue Sea Restaurant and many other diners and restaurants 
run by the Calamaras family. In 1961, John fulfilled another one of his 
dreams when he purchased the Broadway Movie Theater. The Calamaras 
family also established the Crystal Palace Caterers around this time.
  Sadly, John passed away in 1973, but Tom and Paul are continuing his 
legacy. They still

[[Page E559]]

own and operate their father's restaurant and they are also continuing 
his tradition of honoring their Greek roots.
  In recognition of their continued support of causes that promote 
Hellenism in America, in February of this year Thomas and Paul 
Calamaras received the title of Archon Depoutatos by the Ecumenical 
Patriarch Dimitrios.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to bring to your attention these important 
men, Tom and Paul Calamaras, as they are honored as ``Men of the 
Year.'' I would also like to offer my sincere congratulations to the 
Broadway-Astoria Merchants & Professionals Association as it celebrates 
its 18th Annual Dinner Dance.

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