Jim Belesiu

Tom J Belesiu (Athanasious Demitrious Belesiotis) was born in Nestani, Greece, in the summer of 1932. He grew up in the village with his six brothers and two sisters. At age 19, his uncle in Hermiston Oregon sponsored Tom to immigrate to the United States, where he worked for the Union Pacific Railroad near Helix Oregon. In 1953, Tom was drafted by the United States Army and while stationed in Aschaffenburg, Germany, became a naturalized US Citizen. After his honorable discharge, Tom returned to Hermiston Oregon to work on a wheat and watermelon farm that was left to him and his cousins by his uncle that had sponsored his immigration.

In 1957, while visiting his family in Greece, Tom met, and married Georgia. They were married for 66 years before she passed in 2024. Shortly after marriage, Tom, together with Georgia, returned to Hermiston to continue working on the farm. During the 1960s, Tom sponsored to have his brothers Tosis, Gus, and George immigrate to the United States. In 1965, Tom and Georgia moved to Portland where Tom and his brothers opened and ran several restaurants in the Portland area. His last restaurant, Tom’s Restaurant, has been operating for 50 years at the same location in southeast Portland.

Tom is survived by his son Jim Belesiu (Ellen) and daughter Antoinette (Takis) Papailiou, grandchildren Nick (Katyln) Papailiou, Athan Papailiou, Thomas Belesiu, Matthew Belesiu, and great granddaughter Kalliopi Papailiou.

In lieu of flowers, memorial remembrances may be sent to St. John the Forerunner Greek Orthodox Monastery at 5 Timmer Lane, Goldendale, WA 9862 or the Hellenic-American Cultural Center and Museum at 3131 NE Glisan, Portland, OR, 97232