Virginia Botsis

Virginia Botsis, of Ardmore, PA, passed away peacefully at her home on March 3, 2024 from Parkinson’s Disease. She was the firstborn child of Evangelos and Vasiliki (Bessie) Botsis who immigrated to America from Central Greece in the early 20th Century.

Ginny — as she was known to all who knew and loved her —  is survived by her loving brother John (Annette), nephew Evangelos John Botsis, and niece Jenna Botsis. Ginny's cousins were close and dear to her as well: Theodora Porter (Joe), Alexia Wright, Chris Verros (Maureen), Fr. Dean Botsis (Georgia) and numerous cousins in Greece.

Ginny earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Gettysburg College and her Master’s degree in Music Education from West Chester University.

Her career in Music Education was as long as it was radiant. Most notably was her 24-year tenure as Music Specialist in the Lower Merion (PA) School District where she conducted the school chorus and directed many school musicals at elementary and middle schools in the district (Wynnewood Road, Belmont Hills, Penn Wynne, Bryn Mawr, and Bala Cynwyd). She was also a marvelous choral and solo accompanist.

Ginny was active in her beloved church, St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church, in Broomall, for 7 decades, primarily with the Church Choir.  She was supervisor         of the Eastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians and a member of several musical organizations including the National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians, Music Educators National Conference Association, and the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association.

Immediately following her undergraduate college graduation in 1963, Ginny joined the Hellenic University Club of Philadelphia. She remained active in the Club for more than 60 years, taking leadership roles as President (twice), Vice President, Corresponding Secretary, and Programs organizer. Perhaps her greatest gift to the Club was as Chair of the Club’s Scholarship Program. For more than 20 years, Ginny led the expansion and growth of  the HUC Scholarship Program to a point where it has now become the largest scholarship grant program (to undergraduate and graduate college/university students primarily of Greek descent) among all Greek-American organizations in the Philadelphia region. In 2005 the HUC Board of Directors created the AXIOS Award and named Ginny as its first recipient “ . . . in recognition of her many years of outstanding service to the Hellenic University Club of Philadelphia, with gratitude and admiration” … and proclaimed, AXIA — She is worthy! 

Ginny loved to travel, and during her lifetime she made more than 70 trips to distant and exotic places around the globe: to Europe — particularly Greece where she enjoyed visiting family and friends . . .the USA, including Alaska and Hawaii … and many Caribbean islands, where she loved a wintertime getaway!

Donations in Ginny’s memory can be made to one of these organizations:

1) St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church, Children’s Sunday School Program

35 North Malin Rd., Broomall, PA 19008

2)  Hellenic University Club of Philadelphia Scholarship Program PO Box 42199, Philadelphia, P 19101

Friends and family are welcome to attend her viewing from 10am to 11am Monday, March 11,  at St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church, 35 N. Malin Rd., Broomall, PA 19008. Her funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. in the church.  Interment will follow the funeral service at Fernwood Cemetery, 6501 Baltimore Ave., Lansdowne, PA 19050)

May her memory be eternal.

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