Thomas K. Lappas was born in Perista, Nafpaktias on February 15, 1915 to Kostas and Anastasia (Hanges) Lappas. Tom came to the United States with his father in November 1930 and his father returned a year later. During the day he was a florist. At night he went to George Washington High School to learn English. When the George Washington Bridge opened in 1931, Tom and his good friend Mike Kaganis walked across the bridge together.
In January of 1942, Tom was drafted into the Army. They sent him to Kansas into the Calvary for a short time, then to Camp Polk, Louisiana where the unit was mechanized. He served 3 years and 9 months in the Army. Seventeen months of that time he spent overseas in Germany.Tom passed away on November 19, 1998 in the loving arms of his family. His love for Perista (he made 16 trips) was boundless. We were happily married for 48 years, 7 months and 3 days.
During Christmas of 1944 he was at the Battle of the Bulge. Tom was wounded in April 1945 the same day President Roosevelt died. After his recovery some weeks later, the war was over. Tom came home in October, 1945.

During a furlough, Tom came to Bridgeport CT. I met him on March 13, 1944. We corresponded and continued after he was sent overseas. When he returned to the United States, he called me from Newport News, VA and said, "I am a free man". When he got settled back in New York, he called and wanted a visit. My mother invited him to the house and, I guess you can say, the rest is history.
From the time I met Tom he would talk about his beloved Xorio Perista. Someday I will take you to see it. He would say. In 1948, Tom made a trip to Perista. He had not seen his mother in 18 years. His father, had in the meantime returned to the United States in 1946.
In March 1949, we became engaged and in April 1950 we were married. Our sons Dino (1951), Steve (1954) and John (1959) were his pride and joy. When each of the boys went to St. Spyridon Parochial School, Tom instructed them, "If the teacher asks you where your father was born, you will say, Perista Nafpactias, Nomos Etoloakarnania. In Greek of course. He loved speaking at the Dinner Dances. He would tape his speech and then listen to make corrections or stress a point. He was a proud "Peristiano"