Embedded Files
Zacharias Zacharopolous (Ruly Zachary)
Nafplio Harbor, 1990s
Heritage
Heritage
Ruly Zachary, my papou, grew up in Athens, Greece during World War II. During the German occupation, a Nazi general occupied his home. On the dining room table was a machine gun, pointed at the city of Athens. Ruly was my age at the time, risking his life each night to study English in a cave. Within the mountains of Greece lived his relatives. When Nazis were ordered to kill the villagers in the mountains, his father begged the officer to spare their hometown. It was the only town left untouched.
Ruly in Sounio, 1990s
After surviving World War II and graduating from his high school, Athens College, Ruly left Greece for university at only 18 years old. According to his father, it was too dangerous to stay in Greece. Due to his success in school, and learning English, Ruly left to study in Canada. Knowing he would not return to Greece any time soon, he embarked on a journey where he began a new phase in his life.
Ruly and Gisele
After completing his studies, he met Gisele in Belgium. They quickly fell in love, and were planning on living and raising a family in Europe. However, Ruly was offered a job in Massachusetts for five years. With the hope of returning to Europe soon, Ruly married Gisele and they moved to America, across the seas from their families. Little did they know they would never return to Europe.
Ruly with friends and family
Athens, 1990s
Mountain Region, 1990s
Ruly's Cross
Page updated
Report abuse