The Mayor of Turtle Bay
The Memoirs of Helen Denis
by
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I was born on a farm in
I never met my real maternal grandfather[1]. It was my grandfather''s brother, my great-uncle Stratis, whom all us kids knew and loved. He''s the one we considered our grandpa, the one we called Papou. Our real grandpa was back in
Papou Stratis was a fascinating old man, a character straight out of a story book. Considered the "black sheep" of the family, he was a true rebel. The youngest of nine sons, my Papouli left his village in
Papou Stratis went to work as the manager of this big farm, the same farm he later bought from the owner. In the early years, he lived in the barn and the owner lived in a big farm house which, eventually, became the Anagnostis family house. And it was on this farm that my mother, Anastasia, came to live after Papou Stratis brought her to
It was not until I was much older that I learned of my mother''s mysterious past and the incredible story of how she was kidnapped and later brought to this country. It was Papou Stratis who rescued her, literally plucking my mother from a terrible fate. Anastasia''s father came from a large family of nine sons. The family owned a business and home in
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About the Book
A great story teller, Helen Denis revels in her memories as she reminisces of "the wonderful times we had on the farm." Born of Greek immigrant parents in 1913 and raised on a farm in
Helen Denis and her husband, known simply as "Denis," have put a lifetime of work into their store, The Denis Flower Shop. It has become synonymous with the great lady who ran it for nearly 50 years. Along with her husband and her brother, Johnny Anagnostis, Helen Denis built the business to a pinnacle of high reputation and success.
Throughout her life, she always charted her own course. In her work, Helen made no compromises. Her customers including many celebrities knew they could rely on Helen Denis for her professionalism and her excellent taste. In addition to her gracious manner and charismatic personality, her loyal customers expected the best and always got it.
A formidable woman endowed with a keen sense of humor, Helen has been blessed with an inner strength and optimism inherited from her parents. Recounting the stories "in her own voice," Helen Denis brings her youth, career struggles, and humorous accounts of her extraordinary family to life in these pages.
About the Author
A great story teller, Helen Denis revels in her memories as she reminisces of "the wonderful times we had on the farm." Born of Greek immigrant parents in 1913 and raised on a farm in
Helen Denis and her husband, known simply as "Denis," have put a lifetime of work into their store, The Denis Flower Shop. It has become synonymous with the great lady who ran it for nearly 50 years. Along with her husband and her brother, Johnny Anagnostis, Helen Denis built the business to a pinnacle of high reputation and success.
Throughout her life, she always charted her own course. In her work, Helen made no compromises. Her customers including many celebrities knew they could rely on Helen Denis for her professionalism and her excellent taste. In addition to her gracious manner and charismatic personality, her loyal customers expected the best and always got it.
A formidable woman endowed with a keen sense of humor, Helen has been blessed with an inner strength and optimism inherited from her parents. Recounting the stories "in her own voice," Helen Denis brings her youth, career struggles, and humorous accounts of her extraordinary family to life in these pages.