Obituary of Gene Alexander Stathas

<b>Nicholasville, Kentucky</b> Born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, Eugene (Gene) Stathas was the third and youngest son of Alexander Stathas and Anna Sebolski (Edward, now deceased, and Nicholas). The family soon moved to Washington, PA, where Gene, a child of the depression era, grew up working in his family shoeshine and landlord businesses. At age 26, Gene met and married Patricia Corbet and had four lovely children (Gene Jr. who married MaryLynn Castell, Tyleen, Tammy, and Teresa who married Darrell Ramerth). Gene's life passions were the Law, opera and classical music, writing poetry, and his children. Gene spent his life working to gain justice and improve the lives of those who could not fight for themselves. With a Masters in Counseling and Education from Eastern Kentucky University, Gene was a teacher to Special Education students and distressed juveniles at the Kentucky Village. In 1965, Gene became the first Community Action Director for a nine county Eastern Kentucky area, supporting communities in their efforts to gain economic freedom through self sustaining small businesses. Under this authority, he also created the Head Start program in Jefferson County providing preschool children with basic nutritional and social needs to improve their ability to learn. He served his country proudly as a U.S. Marine during the Korean conflict. He is survived by his three beautiful grandchildren Kollin Stathas, and Alexis and Christopher Ramerth. <b>Funeral Information</b> The family has decided to have a small private ceremony.