Cleo Maletis
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Cleo Niki Maletis was born on March 11, 1925 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada to Greek immigrant parents Thomas and Pagoula "Peggy" Michas. She was named the 19th "Mrs. America" in the "Mrs. America Pageant" of 1957.[1]
[edit] Life and family
Maletis grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and went on to receive her B.A. from the University of Washington in home economics, graduating in 1946.[2] One year later on June 28, 1947 Cleo was married to Chris C. Maletis, Jr. in Vancouver. After becoming a U.S. Citizen, the couple moved to Portland, Oregon where her husband Chris had grown up. She became the mother of four boys: Chris Maletis, III (b. 1948), Tom Maletis (b. 1951), Ed Maletis (b. 1954), and Rob Maletis (b. 1957). While pregnant with her youngest son Rob, Mrs. Maletis became "Mrs. America 1957" whilst visiting numerous European countries as an honorary embassador. During this time, Mrs. Maletis became interested in the growing trend of working mothers in Denmark, praising the Danish nuseries that allowed for both parents to work; a trend not yet realized for 1957 suburban Portland.[3] After retiring her crown to Linwood Findley, Maletis went to work for her husband's family beverage distributing business, Maletis, Inc., which in 1993 became Maletis Beverage and CoHo Distributing, the former now run by son Rob Maletis and latter by son Ed Maletis.[4][5][6]
[edit] Today
Maletis, along with her four sons and ten grandchildren all reside in Portland, Oregon. Sadly, she has suffered from advanced Alzheimer's disease since 2002. She and her husband Chris celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on June 28, 2007. She has stated that her proudest achievement is in raising her four sons and having ten grandchildren all live within the same city. Cleo's husband Chris Maletis, Jr. died on February 9, 2008 in their home in Portland, Oregon. He lived a life of 84 years.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ "An Oregon Century Growing Up In The 1950's". The Oregonian (Washington County Edition); December 27, 1999; pg. A01.
- ^ "'Mrs. America Is Cheesecake Specialist". The Washington Post and Times Herald; June 28, 1956; pg. 37
- ^ 'Mrs. America's' Home Views Liked in Europe". The Los Angeles Times; December 19, 1956; pg. A5.
- ^ Columbia Distributing Co., History of Success
- ^ Maletis Beverage Co., History
- ^ "Mother of Four Wins Mrs. America Crown". The Los Angeles Times; May 12, 1957; pg. 4
- ^ Obituary for Chris C. Maletis, Jr. The Oregonian. (Portland Edition). February 13, 2008
