PANAGIS D. CANGHELARIS
(1873-1936)

Photo of Panagis D. Canghelaris (1873-1936)
and his wife Alcinoe L. Dracopoulo (1895-1977)

Panagis D. Canghelaris was born in Argostoli.  His parents were Demetrio P. Cangelari (1844-1898) and his first wife Kate N. Foca Andriato (1848-1885).  Following the passing of his mother he settled in Suez, Egypt, where he worked at the Spiro D. Antippa novelties stores and forwarding agency "Bazar Universel et Bureau de Transit et d'Expéditions", on a profit percentage basis.  In 1919 he took over direction of the freight forwarding sector alone, thus starting a family tradition that would last for three generations and would be strengthened and increased by his son Demetre P. Canghelaris (1922-1996) and taken over by his grand daughter Persa (Cangelaris-Bergerat) (1952) in her early professional life.  This tradition indirectly continues to this day in the shipping sector by his namesake and grandson Panayotis D. Cangelaris (1951).  In 1921 he founded the novelties stores "Bazar du Nil - P.D.Canghelaris & Co." of which he was director until his passing there.  His wife Alcinoe L. Dracopoulo (1895-1977) was born in Anchialos (today's Pomorie) of Eastern Roumelia (now Bulgaria), but her family was originally from the neighboring Messemvria (today's Nessebar).  Her father was a land and salt works owner and had been a Mayor.  Following the ethnic persecutions of 1906, the family faced a financial catastrophe.  Sent on to Athens by her parents shortly before this as a boarder, she graduated the Arsakeion School for Girls and was consequently appointed teacher in Suez (1915-1919).  In 1935 she settled permanently with their daughter Kate P. Canghelaris (1920) in Greece, where she continued teaching.  She passed away at Heracleion (Candia) in the island of Crete.

Élie D. Cangellaris was born in Argostoli.  His parents were Demetrio P. Cangelari (1844-1898) and his second wife Rosa D. Assani (1851-1912).  Under the care of his elder half-brother Panagis D. Canghelaris (1873-1936) he followed the same francophone education as Gérasime D. Cangellaris (1890-1925).  He was President of the Académie Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle (1909-1910).  Together with his brother they presented a large bust of Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle to the Académie in 1910 which was placed at its meeting hall.  From 1919 till his passing he distinguished himself as a barrister at the Mixed Courts of Justice in Alexandria.  He had studied Law at the École de Droit in Cairo (1914-1918), whilst being employed at the Bank of Athens in Alexandria (1912-1919) at the same time.  He was junior barrister (1918-1919) to the renowned barrister of Alexandria George Roussos and in 1929, together with fellow barrister Epaminonde Cambas he founded the law office "Cangellaris - Cambas".  He was also Professor of Law at the Collège des Écoles des Frères (1925-1930) and the Lycée Français - Mission Laique Française (1930-1933).  For his contribution to the spread of the French language and civilization the French government created him knight of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques (1931).  Exactly forty years later (1971) the same award was given to his daughter Nicole.  He was married to Charicleia N. Vissentzidis (1894-1964) born in Alexandria where she studied at École Nôtre Dame de Sion and the École Suisse.  Their marriage produced three daughters, Rose-Marie (1920-2008), Nicole (1922) and Clairy É. Cangellaris (1924).  Nicole was awarded with the Distinguished Acts Medal for her volunteer service as military nurse during World War II.  They both passed away in Alexandria.