Greek media pioneer honored with street co-naming

The late Demetris Kastanas, founder of the national Greek Television program and bi-weekly Eseis Magazine, was honored on Saturday with a street co-naming.

31st Avenue between Steinway and 41st streets will now be called “Demetris Kastanas Way.”

Kastanas founded the television program in 1975, which later became a channel in 1987. Eseis Magazine covered the many issues affecting the Greek-American community.

“Demetris Kastana helped promote Hellenism and Democratic values throughout his life,” said Councilman Costa Constantinides. “We honor him because he served as a great example of civic engagement.”

State Senator Michael Gianaris added that he remembered watching the channel’s Saturday afternoon television show with his grandmother when he was a child.

“There is not a single Greek-American in New York whose life has not been touched by Demetris Kastanas,” Gianaris said.

Nomiki Kastanas, Demetris’s widow, said she was proud and deeply humbled by the street co-naming.

“Although we miss him deeply, it gives us an inner peace knowing that all his years of hard work, and sacrifice have been vindicated, recognized and appreciated,” she said.