The Palikari Project: Part I – Rizes

The Palikari Project: Part I – Rizes | Thirty-five years ago in Oak Lawn, John Kass & his brother Nicholas set a card table with coffee, cigarettes, & a tap recorder, hoping to capture their family’s story from a primary source, their father, Spyros John Kass. The tapes were part of an art project John’s wife Betty put together, a ballet. But the tapes were thought lost and the voice of the Kass patriarch with them after his death in 1992. This is part one those recordings wherein we learn about family’s rural beginnings, life at the ‘root of the mountain,’ and what happens when fascists coming knocking on your door.

Read more about John Kass’ father here – The Palikari Project: Voice of My Father

Check out more from Kass at JohnKassNews.com or contact me at john@johnkassnews.com, or Facebook, or on X (Twitter). Tell your friends about us. Join the great adventure. Subscribe today! And read writings from John’s brother Nick for the American Conservative here and here.

Comments 17

    1. Thank you Marie. Just arrived home after some time in Greece for a wedding. Thought about him every day, there with my brothers. Thanks for subscribing to johnkassnews.com
      yia sou Maria!!!
      John Kass

  2. Γιάννη,
    So many memories of my aunts’, uncles’ and cousins’ stories about the Nazi occupation of our island of Ikaria. German and Italian soldiers confiscated all foodstuffs and livestock forcing the Greeks to come begging for food. Ikarians resisted and took to the mountains and caves and hid their families and livestock for survival. They were never discovered and survived! My parents were married here August 19, 1939 and left on the last ship to depart from Ikaria before the start of the war. Dad’s sisters remained behind and endured the Nazi onslaught – yet survived. Tough genes!!! Precious stories from your Dad. Some day I’ll have to tell you how our family name morphed from Nostaris, which dates to 1790, to Manta(kounis.) So many Greek names are nicknames derived from their trades or habits!!

    2. larry you think your subscription fee allows you to smear my father? He was a patriot fighting for his country.
      Come and see me hon. I’ve got something for you. and it ain’t coffee cake or an invitation to a dance, communist
      John Kass

  5. Listening to your father is reminiscent of listening to my parents and family when I was growing up. I was too young to fully appreciate what they went through and accomplished. That came later in life. It’s amazing the way they lived and how they prospered and raised their children with the goal of providing a better life. Truly the “Greatest Generation”, as they are frequently called. Sadly I don’t have high hopes for today’s generation. I’m not sure they would rise to the occasion today if needed.

    1. Thank you Robert, and bless you sir

      But as to the Greatest Generation that fought and died so we could be free, I’m afraid we let it wither for lack of a cup of water, which we were too selfish or lazy to get

      John

  6. John, my wife, who is Greek, and I truly enjoyed the first installment of The Palikari Project. Her Dad came from Achladokampos which we found is not so far from Rizes. He also settled on the south side of Chicago and attended St. Nick’s. My wife now regrets not recording her dad as you and Nick did, so thank you for sharing the Voice of your Father. We look forward to the next chapters.

    1. Joseph:
      and, as you doubtless know by now, Achlothkambo is the birthplace of one of the world’s greatest soups, Githa Vrasti Goat Soup… before the highway the Achlothokambites sold this soup. restaurants were stocked floor to ceiling with crusty bread we’d dip in the soup, lemony, delicious, a taste of the dreams of my youth. Thanks Joseph Patt and tell your wife she could record those favorite stories herself.
      God bless you
      John Kass

  8. Great stories! So thankful I grew up in a neighborhood filled with people from all over the globe. Many were first generation. Experiencing the foods & cultures have made my life that much richer. I am a mutt, but my Dad came here from Puerto Rico as a late teen. Like many immigrants, they didn’t or barely spoke the language. How frightening to come to a strange land, but one of opportunity for these people. All of them busted their ass. They had a dream to make their life better. They personally may not have experienced it, but their children did. Thank God for their sacrifice! Thanks Nick, John, Betty, & Jeff for sharing this!

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