Athena G. Letsou

Athena G. Letsou, age 88, of Lowell and Boca Raton, FL and a former Lowell teacher, died Wednesday July 9, 2025, at Lowell General Hospital.

Born in Lowell, a daughter of the late George T. and Despina (Zamanakos) Letsou, she attended Lowell schools and graduated from Lowell High School in 1954. She received the Bachelor of Science degree from Lowell Technological Institute (now U MA Lowell) in 1958, and in 1962 received the Master of Education degree from Fitchburg State College. In 1972 she was awarded the Master of Science degree from Syracuse University.

Athena taught Chemistry at Lowell High School for 42 years until her retirement in June 2001. In 1986, she became Advisor to the Lowell High Science Club and Science League Coordinator. She was a summer Chemistry Instructor at Cal State L.A. for 17 years (1974 through 1991). In 1992, Athena was appointed adjunct faculty member in the Chemistry Department at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. She enjoyed her years of part-time teaching at the University until her retirement in 2013. Athena’s teaching excellence was recognized by her 1997 induction into the Aula Laudis Society of the Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society and her 2001 receipt of the Lowell Rotary Teacher of the Year Award. 

Since 2008, Athena has been spending winters at her home in Boca Raton, where she has been active with the St. Mark Church Senior Group, as well as with the Lifelong Learning Society at Florida Atlantic University. She has been a lifelong member of the Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church in Lowell.

She is survived by her nieces and nephews: Atty. Thomas C. Letsou (Atty. Jun H. Lee) of Hoboken, N.J., Valerie C.  Letsou of Lowell, Dr. George V. Letsou (Dr. Jane E. Carter) of Houston, TX, Anthea Letsou (James E. Metherall) of Salt Lake City, UT,  and Peter V. Letsou (Felicity) of Memphis, Tennessee. She also leaves behind nine great-nieces and nephews; three great grand nephews; and her sister-in-law, Olga P. Letsou of Lowell.

She was also the sister of the late Professor Nicholas Letsou, Atty. Costas G. Letsou, Dr. Vasilios G. Letsou, and sister-in-law of the late Antigone P. Letsou and Helen V. Letsou.

Family and friends may attend her Visitation on Saturday morning July 26, 2025 at the TRANSFIGURATION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 25 FR. JOHN SARANTOS WAY in  LOWELL from 10 to 11 A.M. Her Funeral Service will take place in the church at 11 A.M. Interment will follow at Westlawn Cemetery in Lowell. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Transfiguration Church Endowment Fund, 25 Fr. John Sarantos Way, Lowell, MA 01852, or to the "Athena Letsou Science League Scholarship Fund" at Lowell High School, c/o the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, 100 Merrimack St. Suite 202, Lowell, MA 01852. Arrangements by the O'DONNELL FUNERAL HOME - LOWELL - MA - (978) 458-8768

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