Lefteris Kiamos

May 18, 1944 ~ January 13, 2026

Newburgh, NY

Lefteris George Kiamos, 81, died peacefully on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, in Newburgh, NY.

He was born in the village of Geraki, Laconia, Greece in 1944.

His name appropriately means "freedom", as his compatriots liberated their country from Nazi occupation shortly after his birth. Lefteris grew up in poverty, but his upbringing instilled within him a fierce work ethic and desire to improve his life. He was intelligent, having studied engineering at the university-level, but worked with his family as a mason in Athens before bravely emigrating from his homeland in the 1970s to pursue the American Dream. He settled in Newburgh, NY where his sister was already situated alongside fellow immigrants constituting much of the St. Nicholas church community. "Terry the Greek", as he was known to fellow residential builders, went on to construct thousands of decks and porches in Orange County and was immensely proud of his workmanship. In the mid-1980s, he returned to Greece and convinced Maria, his "sweetheart", to marry him and relocate to the United States where they would spend the next forty years. Although he struggled to adapt to many of the technological and cultural changes that transpired during his life, he nevertheless persevered to attain his essentially singular goal of providing the best life for his family.

Lefteris is survived by his wife Maria Kiamos, his son George Lefteris Kiamos and his wife Kaitlynn, and his daughter Jessica Decker-Matias and her family. He is also survived by his granddaughters Daphne and Penelope, whom he loved immeasurably, and who will miss their Papou. He is survived further by his brother Christos and his wife Giota, his sister Andromache and her husband Andreas, his sister-in-law Vaso, as well as many beloved niblings residing in Greece, and locally by his nephew Paul Matthews and his wife Zoe, his niece Joanne Matthews-Forbes and her husband Richard, and their children. Lefteris was predeceased by his parents, Yiorgos and Marika, and his siblings Yianni, Demetra, and Vasili.

Lefteris was a reserved individual who was content to sit quietly reading the New York Times (in its entirety), following the stock market, or reviewing maps. He greatly enjoyed dining out and road trips, especially to Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont. What began as a journey to Indiana or Ohio would often morph into a detour to New Orleans, Florida, or some other adventure. He was able to drive all day and night (and achieve almost any other feat) so long as his devoted wife was beside him supplying coffee and koulourakia (cookies). Although he generally disliked sports and didn't understand most of the rules, he developed a fandom for Notre Dame football and basketball, perhaps as a tacit means to expand his connection with his son, with whom he spoke every day. Lefteris was deeply patriotic with respect to both his Greek heritage (including as a member of AHEPA) and American citizenship.  He was a gentleman to all and genuinely thrilled to learn of the achievements of friends and family near and far.  His family is comforted that his passing ends a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease and other ailments that adversely affected his mind but certainly not his good looks.

Visitation will be held from 2pm to 5pm, on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at Brooks Funeral Home, 481 Gidney Avenue, Newburgh, NY. A funeral service will be held at 10am on Monday, January 19, 2026, at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Newburgh, NY with burial following in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Newburgh, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church or The Greats Scholarship Fund which awards an annual scholarship to a graduate of Newburgh Free Academy high school.