Dimitrios Negrepontis (Greek: Δημήτριος Νεγρεπόντης; 25 March 1915 – June 1996), also Dimitrios Ioannis Negroponte or Dimitri John Negroponte, was the first-ever Greek to participate in the winter Olympics as an alpine skier known today for not saluting Hitler. He later became a successful shipping magnate.[1]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Greek |
| Born | 25 March 1915 Lausanne, Switzerland |
| Died | June 1996 London, England |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Alpine skiing |
Early life
editNegrepontis was born in Lausanne, Switzerland on 25 March 1915 coming from Greek diaspora and the Negroponte family of the island of Chios. He raised in Klosters and Davos, Switzerland.[1]
Career
editAs a Greek Olympian, he carried the flag into the stadium in 1936. He did not salute Hitler.[1] He competed in the men's combined event at the 1936 Winter Olympics.[2]
Personal life
editNegrepontis was married to Catherine Coumantaros (1917–2000),[3] who ran the Friends of Greece shop at 52 East 57th Street.[4] Together, they lived in Manhattan's Upper East Side and were the parents of four sons:
- John Negroponte (b. 1939), a diplomat who was the first-ever Director of National Intelligence and former Deputy Secretary of State of the United States.[5][6]
- George Negroponte, who served as President of the Drawing Center from 2002 to 2007.[1]
- Michel Negroponte, an Emmy Award winning filmmaker.[1]
- Nicholas Negroponte (b. 1943), an architect who founded the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Media Lab and of the One Laptop per Child project.[2]
Negrepontis died in London in June 1996.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "A Greek Style Miracle on Ice?". Greek Works. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
- ^ a b Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Dimitrios Negrepontis Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
- ^ "Paid Notice: Deaths NEGROPONTE, CATHERINE". The New York Times. 27 June 2000. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ "Greek Women's Heroism Recalled As Underground Pleads for Aid". The New York Times. 4 February 1943. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ Shane, Scott (22 April 2005). "Negroponte Confirmed as Director of National Intelligence". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ Rodrigues, Ruben (19 February 2005). "Opinion | John Negroponte's Past". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
