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The
Leventis family (l-r): Henry, Christina, Phil, E.V., Peter
and Gregory.
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Phil Leventis is the second of three sons of Peter P. Leventis,
Jr., and Tina Palassis Leventis. His parents were first-generation
children of Greek immigrants. His paternal grandparents came to
this country from a small town near Sparta, Greece, before 1910.
His maternal grandparents were from Asia Minor in an area that
today is part of Turkey.
His father
and mother were born in Gastonia, N.C., and Charleston, respectively,
just prior to 1920. His father graduated from The Citadel in 1941
and served as an infantry officer in Europe during WW II. His
decorations included the Purple Heart and he was medically retired
due to the loss of his leg in combat. He was recognized as the
outstanding Disabled Veteran in South Carolina in 1959. Pete Leventis,
who passed away in 1988, was a very successful businessman and
community leader. He served on Richland County Council in the
1970's and supported many community projects. Phil's mother still
lives in Columbia where she raised Phil and his brothers.
Phil had two brothers, Peter III and Nicolas Peter. Peter passed
away in 1971. Nick and his family live in Irmo. Nick works for
the South Carolina Retirement System as a computer analyst.
Phil and E.V. Leventis
Phil met
his wife, Ellen Venable "E.V." Locker Leventis, at the
University of Virginia in 1967. E.V. attended schools in England,
Alexandria, Virginia, Bermuda and Philadelphia, Pa., prior to
attending Longwood College in Farmville, Va. After graduating
from Longwood with a degree in biology, she attended the University
of Virginia from which she received a bachelor's degree in nursing
in 1968. She was commissioned as an officer in the Army Nurse
Corp and served on active duty from September 1968 until August
1972. She was an operating room nurse and her assignments included
a tour of duty in Vietnam in 1969.
E.V. has been active in the community since coming to Sumter.
She has served on the Foster Care Board of Review and Habitat
for Humanity Board. She has volunteered for many projects in the
schools as well as in the church.
The Leventis family
Phil and
E.V. were married at the University of Virginia Chapel in December
1969. They have four children: Gregory P., Henry C., Peter P.
IV and Christina.
- Gregory
graduated with honors from the University of Florida, including
one year of study at the London School of Economics. He now
lives in New York where he works for the Tanenbaum Center for
Interreligious Understanding
- Henry
graduated from the College of Charleston and Washington and
Lee Law School in Lexington, Virginia. He is an assistant solicitor
in Charleston.
- Peter,
a former Secret Service agent, is in law school at USC in Columbia.
- Christina
is in law school at Washington and Lee University.
Since 1983,
the Leventis family has hosted and helped 11 foreign students
from all over the world -- Brazil, Spain, Mexico, France, Germany,
Switzerland, England and Sierra Leone. These students have lived
in their home from a few days to over six months. Three of E.V.
and Phil's children also were exchange students in Spain and England.
MORE:
public service l small
business l military service
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