Sophia Moustakas Marx
Marina
Velliou Moustakas was born in Kozani, Greece and was raised in Athens. After
receiving a diploma in Social Work, in Athens Greece, she came to the United
States with a Fullbright scholarship and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
from the University of Oregon where she continued with graduate studies. She
also possesses California lifetime Credentials in Teaching Greek as a Second
Language, since 1975.
Marina’s saga started when she came to San Jose, California in 1962, as a new bride, with her husband Evan who was teaching at SJSU. She has two children, both married and three grandchildren.
Since her first year in San Jose, she started teaching the Greek Language and in 1971 she founded and directed for 15 years the Hellenic Language Institute, at the St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. She also taught Greek Language and Culture classes at San Jose City College in California. Marina founded, taught and directed the Demotic Folk Dancers, comprised of non-Greek Faculty wives of San Jose State University. For 33 years, from 1966-1999 Marina produced and directed cultural programs on and off stage with the participation of dance groups, vocal artists, instrumentalists, actors, philologists and writers. From 1971-1999, she co-founded, chaired, and worked at the Greek Culture and Food Festival at the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, in San Jose, California, in addition to founding, directing, teaching, and choreographing the Youth Folk Dance Groups of St. Nicholas.
Marina produced, directed, and hosted a Greek Ethnic Television show, in San Francisco from 1985-1987. Most recently, Marina founded the Hellenic Heritage Institute and Museum of San Jose, California, where she serves as President and CEO. She is also the western States Governor of the Pan-Macedonian Association and a member of the Greek Education and Culture Council of the Metropolis of San Francisco.
On a professional level Marina has had various careers, all revolving around serving people. She has worked as a social worker for the Santa Clara County Welfare Department, researcher for a project for asthmatic children at Kaiser Hospital, Director of Human Resources for a Montessori School, and a Consultant of Greek Cultural Affairs.
Her quote: I am grateful to all those who believed in the same dream and hold hands with me in “Passing The Torch Of The Hellenic Heritage, To The New Generation!”