Andrew T. Kopan, Ph.D. Beloved husband of Alice, nee Orphanos; devoted son of the late Thomas and Katherine Kopan; loving brother of Virginia (the late James) Drousias, the late Dr. Chris (Kay) Kopan of Toledo, OH, Demetra (Marinos) Tripodis, Gus (the late Estelle) and George (the late Sophie) Kopan; son-in-law of the late Pericles "Peter" and Tula Orphanos; dear uncle, cousin and friend of many.
Visitation Friday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Conboy's Westchester Funeral Home, 10501 W. Cermak Rd. (two blks West of Mannheim Rd.), Westchester. Family and friends will meet Saturday morning at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 601 S. Central, Chicago, for visitation from 9:30 a.m. until time of funeral service at 10:30 a.m. Services officiated by His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos and other clergy. Interment Elmwood Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center (A.T. Kopan Special Collections Fund), 801 W. Adams St., Chicago, IL 60607, or DePaul University Library Special Collections (A.T. Kopan) c/o De Paul University Development, One East Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604.
Dr. Kopan, 82, was a Coast Guard veteran of World War II, University professor, scholar, administrator, mentor and speaker. A career spanning 60 years as columnist/journalist, lecturer, historian, philosopher, author, editor, lay theologian, activist, church and civic leader... a Fulbright Scholar. "Renaissance" educator with a zest for life and learning.., a fighting spirit, initiating innovative programs and causes during his lifetime. Dr. Kopan was Professor Emeritus of Education, DePaul University, where he taught the history and philosophy of education from 1968 to 1994, Chairman of Educational Foundations, Director of Educational Policy Studies and later, Director of Graduate Programs. He was a graduate of DePaul and Northwestern Universities, received a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and received an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology in Boston.
When he retired in 1994 Professor Kopan was awarded DePaul University's highest faculty honor, the Via Sapientiae award (I will Show You the Way of Wisdom), for his outstanding teaching, service and leadership. The University established the Andrew T. Kopan Senior Honors Leadership Award in 1996. Dr. Kopan had also conducted DePaul European study tours for 12 years for educators. A 40-year active member of Phi Delta Kappa International, he received the Distinguished Educators Award in 1997.
He taught and served as educational consultant in England, Greece and Israel. Specializing in multicultural and ethnic education and immigration studies, he served on federal and state education commissions. His awards for cultural pluralism include those from the White House Conference on Education, Illinois State Office on Multi-Culturalism, Chicago's Bicentennial Project, the University of Texas and Yeshiva University in New York.
As a recognized authority in his areas of specialization, he participated in the Ellis Island Project. He has contributed over 3,000 articles in the print media, 300 monographs and journal articles and authored 16 books. Among them are his prize- winning chapter in Ethnic Chicago: A Multi-cultural Portrait (1977, 1981, 1984, 1995); Education and Greek Immigrants in Chicago 1892- 1973 (1990); "The Greek Press in America" in The Ethnic Press in the United States (1987); Rethinking Urban Education (1972); Education and Cultural Pluralism (1970); and 'Multi-cultural Education' in Dictionary of American Immigration (1990). His most recent contributions appeared in the Women Building Chicago 1790-1990 (2001) and the entry "Greeks" in the recently published Encyclopedia of Chicago (2004).
A lifelong faithful Orthodox Christian, one of the founders of the Pan-Orthodox CEYOLA and GOYA youth groups in the 1940's and '50's, he served as National President of GOYA. Dr. Kopan also served the Church as a delegate of the Archdiocese to the 2nd Assembly of the World Council in 1954; a delegate to the 1960 Ecumenical Assembly of Youth at Lausanne, Switzerland; member of the Archdiocesan Council; Boards of Trustees of Hellenic College/Holy Cross Theological School, Boston, and St. Basil Academy, New York, religious education curricula for the Greek Diocese of Chicago, an articulate supporter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) writing extensively in defense of its prerogatives as a world religious center, he was honored by the late Patriarch Demetrios with the special title "Teacher of the Nation" as an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and member of the Order of St. Andrew.
He was one of the founders and the first president of the Hellenic Museum of Chicago, a Founder of Illinois Ethnic Coalition, a founder of Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) a national movement advocating Orthodox Christian Unity. He served as Ethnic Liaison Director for the United Hellenic American Congress (UHAC). He served for 15 years as principal of Koraes Elementary School and also served on the parish council of St. Constantine and Helen Church. A lifetime member of AHEPA Woodlawn Chapter.
Dr. Kopan served as a commissioner of the River Forest Traffic and Safety Commission for over 10 years. One of the founding board of directors of SOS Village, Illinois. He received numerous awards in a wide area of academic, church and civic organizations.
His wife wishes to express special appreciation to the physicians, nurses and caregivers who made Dr. Kopan's epic struggles with Parkinson's Disease and cancer tolerable. "He fought the good fight relentlessly." 708-F.U.N.E.R.A.L
Visitation Friday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Conboy's Westchester Funeral Home, 10501 W. Cermak Rd. (two blks West of Mannheim Rd.), Westchester. Family and friends will meet Saturday morning at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 601 S. Central, Chicago, for visitation from 9:30 a.m. until time of funeral service at 10:30 a.m. Services officiated by His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos and other clergy. Interment Elmwood Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center (A.T. Kopan Special Collections Fund), 801 W. Adams St., Chicago, IL 60607, or DePaul University Library Special Collections (A.T. Kopan) c/o De Paul University Development, One East Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604.
Dr. Kopan, 82, was a Coast Guard veteran of World War II, University professor, scholar, administrator, mentor and speaker. A career spanning 60 years as columnist/journalist, lecturer, historian, philosopher, author, editor, lay theologian, activist, church and civic leader... a Fulbright Scholar. "Renaissance" educator with a zest for life and learning.., a fighting spirit, initiating innovative programs and causes during his lifetime. Dr. Kopan was Professor Emeritus of Education, DePaul University, where he taught the history and philosophy of education from 1968 to 1994, Chairman of Educational Foundations, Director of Educational Policy Studies and later, Director of Graduate Programs. He was a graduate of DePaul and Northwestern Universities, received a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and received an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology in Boston.
When he retired in 1994 Professor Kopan was awarded DePaul University's highest faculty honor, the Via Sapientiae award (I will Show You the Way of Wisdom), for his outstanding teaching, service and leadership. The University established the Andrew T. Kopan Senior Honors Leadership Award in 1996. Dr. Kopan had also conducted DePaul European study tours for 12 years for educators. A 40-year active member of Phi Delta Kappa International, he received the Distinguished Educators Award in 1997.
He taught and served as educational consultant in England, Greece and Israel. Specializing in multicultural and ethnic education and immigration studies, he served on federal and state education commissions. His awards for cultural pluralism include those from the White House Conference on Education, Illinois State Office on Multi-Culturalism, Chicago's Bicentennial Project, the University of Texas and Yeshiva University in New York.
As a recognized authority in his areas of specialization, he participated in the Ellis Island Project. He has contributed over 3,000 articles in the print media, 300 monographs and journal articles and authored 16 books. Among them are his prize- winning chapter in Ethnic Chicago: A Multi-cultural Portrait (1977, 1981, 1984, 1995); Education and Greek Immigrants in Chicago 1892- 1973 (1990); "The Greek Press in America" in The Ethnic Press in the United States (1987); Rethinking Urban Education (1972); Education and Cultural Pluralism (1970); and 'Multi-cultural Education' in Dictionary of American Immigration (1990). His most recent contributions appeared in the Women Building Chicago 1790-1990 (2001) and the entry "Greeks" in the recently published Encyclopedia of Chicago (2004).
A lifelong faithful Orthodox Christian, one of the founders of the Pan-Orthodox CEYOLA and GOYA youth groups in the 1940's and '50's, he served as National President of GOYA. Dr. Kopan also served the Church as a delegate of the Archdiocese to the 2nd Assembly of the World Council in 1954; a delegate to the 1960 Ecumenical Assembly of Youth at Lausanne, Switzerland; member of the Archdiocesan Council; Boards of Trustees of Hellenic College/Holy Cross Theological School, Boston, and St. Basil Academy, New York, religious education curricula for the Greek Diocese of Chicago, an articulate supporter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) writing extensively in defense of its prerogatives as a world religious center, he was honored by the late Patriarch Demetrios with the special title "Teacher of the Nation" as an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and member of the Order of St. Andrew.
He was one of the founders and the first president of the Hellenic Museum of Chicago, a Founder of Illinois Ethnic Coalition, a founder of Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) a national movement advocating Orthodox Christian Unity. He served as Ethnic Liaison Director for the United Hellenic American Congress (UHAC). He served for 15 years as principal of Koraes Elementary School and also served on the parish council of St. Constantine and Helen Church. A lifetime member of AHEPA Woodlawn Chapter.
Dr. Kopan served as a commissioner of the River Forest Traffic and Safety Commission for over 10 years. One of the founding board of directors of SOS Village, Illinois. He received numerous awards in a wide area of academic, church and civic organizations.
His wife wishes to express special appreciation to the physicians, nurses and caregivers who made Dr. Kopan's epic struggles with Parkinson's Disease and cancer tolerable. "He fought the good fight relentlessly." 708-F.U.N.E.R.A.L
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Andrew T. Kopan ; 1924 - 2006; Historian was Greek expert; DePaul professor was authority on parents' native country and on Chicago immigrants
Dr. Andrew T. Kopan was a longtime DePaul University professor, scholar and writer who became the de facto historian for Chicago's Greek community. When he wasn't teaching, lecturing or writing, he spent his time reading textbooks and examining ancient maps in an attempt to learn more about all things Greek. Most importantly, friends and family said, he shared that knowledge with others. "He was huge in the local Greek community," said Elaine Kollintzas Drikakis, executive director of the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center, which Dr. Kopan helped found. "We looked to Dr. Kopan, as did many scholars nationwide, as the authority on Greek immigration, particularly in Chicago."
Dr. Kopan, 82, of River Forest, died Saturday, July 1, in Westlake Hospital in Melrose Park of complications from cancer and Parkinson's disease. Dr. Kopan's service to the Greek community began in 1954, when he became principal at Koraes Elementary School, a private Greek Orthodox school now located in Palos Hills. He worked there for 12 years. "He was an ardent supporter of having high ideals; he was always telling children to aim for the stars," said Rev. Byron Papanikolaou of the Saints Constantine & Helen Church, which oversees the school.
He left the school in 1964 for DePaul University, but his mentoring and influence on the Greek community continued. He penned articles, researched church histories, lectured locally and abroad and was an active member in the Greek Orthodox Church. "He was well known not only in the Chicago Greek community, but nationally among Greeks, especially in Orthodox Church circles," Papanikolaou said. "He didn't seek it out, but his writings, his lectures, his support, made him well known." Dr. Kopan's columns in the monthly Greek Press became a mainstay of the paper. "He wrote articles about the history of Greece, the Crusades, Cyprus, Constantinople, Turkey, you name it," said Helen Angelopoulos, former owner and editor. "He was a terrific writer. He was always digging, researching the facts."
Dr. Kopan was one of six children raised in a small South Side home by his parents, Greek immigrants, said his wife, Alice. He graduated from Calumet High School in 1943 and enlisted in the Coast Guard immediately after graduation. He served on a ship in the South Pacific, his wife said, and returned in 1945 with a hearing injury he sustained from bomb explosions. Upon completing his service, Dr. Kopan attended DePaul and graduated in 1949 with a degree in history. Shortly after, he furthered his studies at Northwestern University, receiving a master's degree in history. He traveled to Greece in 1953 as a Fulbright Scholar and graduated from University of Chicago in 1974 with a doctoral degree in social foundation, his wife said. In 1994, Dr. Kopan retired from DePaul, but his legacy continues with the Andrew T. Kopan Senior Leadership Award, which recognizes one or two graduating students each year for their leadership, academics and service. In addition to his wife, Dr. Kopan is survived by his sister, Virginia Drousias. Services have been held.
Chicago Tribune, July 16, 2006, page 5, Brendan McCarthy, Tribune staff reporter
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