[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 125 (Tuesday, July 22, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E711]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CELEBRATING THE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF STEPHANIE PAPAGIANNIS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MARLIN A. STUTZMAN

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 22, 2025

  Mr. STUTZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary 
American who has resided for over 70 years in Indiana's 3rd District, 
Mrs. Stephanie Papagiannis, as she celebrates her 100th birthday on 
July 25, 2025. a century marked by perseverance, family, faith, and an 
enduring love for this country.
  Born in 1925 in the village of Vishini now known as Vissinia. 
Stephanie grew up amid the political and cultural upheaval of Greek-
occupied Macedonia. She witnessed firsthand the efforts to erase the 
language and customs of the native Macedonian people, yet she never 
lost her sense of identity or resilience.
  In 1952, with incredible courage and hope, Stephanie left behind a 
war-torn Europe and emigrated to the United States with her young son, 
James, to reunite with her husband Peter in Fort Wayne, Indiana. 
Together, they built a new life grounded in hard work, community, and 
opportunity. The couple raised three children, and today, their family 
has grown including five grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.
  Stephanie and Peter contributed meaningfully to the local community, 
opening two highly regarded establishments; the Pontiac Rib Bar and 
Pete's Gateview Inn. Their restaurants were not just businesses they 
were gathering places that embodied their warmth and entrepreneurial 
spirit.
  A proud member of Fort Wayne's Macedonian American community, 
Stephanie maintained strong ties to her heritage and faith through St. 
Nicholas Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral, founded by her relatives. Her 
life has served as a bridge between generations and is inspiring to 
all.
  Mr. Speaker, as Mrs. Papagiannis celebrates her centennial surrounded 
by loved ones, we pay tribute to a remarkable woman whose story 
represents the very best of the American immigrant experience who lived 
the American dream. May her legacy continue to inspire, and may her 
next chapter be filled with joy and peace.

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