Angelides Thankful for His Big Benefactor Costa Gavras Receives
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O c v ΓΡΑΦΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ Bringing the news ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ to generations of ΑΠΟ ΤΟ 1915 The National Herald Greek Americans A WEEKLY GREEK AMERICAN PUBLICATION c v www.thenationalherald.com VOL. 10, ISSUE 473 November 4, 2006 $1.00 GREECE: 1.75 EURO Angelides Community Shocked by Jolting Homicide-Suicide in Brooklyn Thankful Police: Man ambushed his wife with a sawed- For His Big off shotgun, then turned the gun on himself By Demetris Tsakas Mr. D’Atri said he’ll never shake Special to The National Herald the memory of seeing the double- Benefactor barrels of the gun bearing down on NEW YORK – The Greek American them as Mr. Skellas, who would Community in Brooklyn was have turned 49 the next day, Angelo Tsakopoulos shocked by a double murder last charged at his wife screaming weekend, when 48-year-old John something in Greek before shoot- Has a Lot to Do with Skellas stalked his estranged wife ing her in the head. Karen outside her home and shot “I was standing outside her Treasurer’s Success her dead with a sawed-off shotgun house and talking to her. He came after a heated argument. Minutes out of nowhere,” Mr. D’Atri said. By Juliet Williams later, he turned the gun on himself “They spoke. She kept saying, ‘No, Associated Press and dropped dead, right on top of no, no,’ and something in Greek, his victim’s blood-stained corpse, and he fired.” SACRAMENTO (AP) – After their the smoking weapon falling to his BLINK OF AN EYE only debate earlier this month, side. Mr. D’Atri’s first thought was State Treasurer Phil Angelides in- The couple’s daughter came that he was witnessing a joke of troduced Governor Arnold home shortly after the shooting and some sort. “I didn’t know who it Schwarzenegger to a special friend, burst into tears as she saw her par- was,” he said. “He was apparently a diminutive Greek immigrant who ents dead. “That’s my mother. She’s hiding his weapon in his sleeve. He had been sitting near the front, cen- the only one I’ve got,” Angela Skel- fired once. I don’t know if it mis- ter stage. las screamed before police took her fired or hit what she was carrying His name was Angelo K. away. in her hands. I wasn’t sure if it was Tsakopoulos, a multimillionaire Mrs. Skellas, 44, a mother of real, or if it was a Halloween prank. who is not widely known outside two was killed while accepting a He backed up a little, and then in the Sacramento area except to housewarming gift, when her new- the blink of an eye, he came for- those involved in California poli- ly estranged husband rushed up ward again and fired a second tics. The name was instantly famil- and shot her with a shotgun he had shot.” iar to Schwarzenegger. hidden up his sleeve, police and That shot killed Mrs. Skellas, he The Governor smiled, shook his witnesses said. He then reloaded said. Mr. D’Atri said the weapon ap- hand and remarked, "We all need and shot himself to death. peared to be a sawed-off shotgun. these people as friends in this life." The murdered woman, an ad- He ran away, seeking refuge at a Tsakopoulos has been a very ministrative worker at Lutheran neighbor’s house. good friend to Angelides, himself Medical Center, had only just days As Mr. D’Atri rushed to get the descendant of Greek immi- DEBBIE EGAN-CHIN/PHOTO COURTESY OF NEW YORK DAILY NEWS before moved into an apartment at neighbors to dial 911, he said, Mr. grants. Angela Skellas is consoled at her mother’s murder scene in Brooklyn last Sunday afternoon, October 29. 2261 E. 2nd Street in Gravesend, Skellas ran down the block and re- The 70-year-old Sacramento Karen Skellas was reportedly stalked and ambushed by her estranged husband, John, who shot his wife having left her husband with plans area land developer played a cru- with a sawed-off shotgun and killed himself. to divorce him, said a coworker, Continued on page 3 cial role in getting Angelides to that John D’Atri. debate stage at Sacramento State “She was such a lovely person. University. He has given millions to Karen was well loved as a person Angelides' various campaigns for and a colleague, very highly re- public office, as well as to other spected at the hospital. I got her out candidates, becoming one of the Costa Gavras Receives Honorary Ph.D of the house, and this animal is Andy Athens most influential political players in stalking her,” Mr. D’Atri said, California. By Beverley MacDougall Universities know the meaning of All eyes are on the renowned adding that he felt he unintention- Reflects on This year, Tsakopoulos and his Special to The National Herald pageantry. The setting is almost like filmmaker and director, who shuf- ally lured his colleague into the am- family have given the vast majority a painting depicting a 16th Century fles uncomfortably in his seat. bush. of their $11.6 million in political VANCOUVER, B.C. – As the haunt- courtyard in Venice, rather than a “Costa Gavras’ dedication to cin- Sobbing and shaking, Mr. D’Atri SAE’s History contributions to help Angelides' bid ing wail of the bagpipes drifts out 21st Century ceremony on Cana- ema as director, writer and actor is retold the chilling details of the car- for governor. They donated nearly towards the mountains and accom- da’s west coast. matched by his steadfast commit- nage he witnessed about 1 PM last $9 million to help Angelides over- panies a throng of students and fac- The packed audience patiently ment to furthering this most impor- Sunday, October 29, after dropping By Theodore Kalmoukos come a bruising Democratic prima- ulty, a legendary filmmaker and di- listens to Simon Fraser University tant medium. Costa Gavras has re- off a housewarming gift for Mrs. Special to The National Herald ry challenge from State Controller rector takes his place on the podi- President Michael Stevenson ele- ceived many awards, including the Skellas, who split with her husband Steve Westly, and more than $2 um wearing, for the first time, the gantly announce, “Mr. Chancellor, I Palme d’Or for ‘Special Section’ and the previous week and moved in BOSTON – Andrew Athens, the million this election season to help hood and gown of Simon Fraser am honored to present a consum- an Oscar for ‘Missing.’ His work with her daughter. prominent Greek American busi- the California Democratic Party run University. He takes his front-row mate artist whose chosen medium has been nominated numerous Mr. D’Atri said he dropped by to nessman from Chicago was the television commercials favoring seat amid scholars and dignitaries, is film; who combines an unerring times by such august bodies as the deliver a housewarming gift shortly World President of the Council of Angelides. each of whom proudly wears the eye with a confident directorial Berlin International Film Festival, before 1 PM last Sunday, and Hellenes Abroad (SAE) for the last The family's collective contribu- colors of his or her alma mater. touch and a profound social con- the French Academy of Cinema and watched in horror as Mr. Skellas, 11 years. This time, he said, he de- tions to Angelides and the Democ- The vision that remains on the science to create cinema that edu- wearing a hooded sweatshirt, ap- cided not to seek re-election be- ratic Party constitute the greatest podium of honor is spectacular. cates, entertains and provokes.” Continued on page 5 proached and shot Mrs. Skellas. cause a new law passed by the level of support from one entity any Greek Government, which now candidate has received in a single limits SAE presidents to a five-year race, said Ned Wigglesworth, poli- term, has diminished the position cy director for California Common of the president to a powerless cer- Cause, a political watchdog group. emonial role. Only Hollywood producer, Greeks Left Now in his eighties, Mr. Athens Stephen Bing, has given more, is as energetic as ever. “I am twice about $40 million in favor of Their Mark on 40 years old,” he quipped, adding Proposition 87, an initiative which that he will continue to look after would tax instate oil production. healthcare facilities he has helped "I don't know of any single big- Pro Wrestling established in the Balkans and for- ger spender at the state level in the mer Soviet republics to care for U.S. -- for one year, for one race," Hellenic communities who live in Wigglesworth said. By Steve Frangos those countries and desperately Tsakopoulos' company, AKT De- Special to The National Herald need quality medical care. velopments, has left a mark on He spoke openly about the orga- much of the capital region, from of- From the early 1900’s until the nization he has headed since its in- fice buildings to suburbs which 1930’s, Greeks dominated the sport ception in 1995, but he refused to stretch in every direction. His name of wrestling in North America. endorse anyone who is attempting is on the downtown library and a When wrestling was a legitimate to succeed him in December (re- Hellenic Studies department at the sport, Jim Londos was the unde- gional elections are being held this feated champion who was as recog- weekend), although he also said he Continued on page 2 nized a national figure as Jack it would be good for the organiza- Dempsey.