Vivian Pahos of Santa Barbara died peacefully in her sleep the morning of Aug. 27, 2024, with family by her side.

Vivian was born to Peter and Christine Philis in Holyoke, Massachusetts, in 1930 at the beginning of the Great Depression.

Her parents were Greek immigrants who lived a humble but full life adhering to the Greek traditions that they brought with them on their journey across the Atlantic.

The second oldest of five children, Vivian faithfully adhered to these traditions until her passion for adventure coaxed her away from her hometown.

To the disappointment of her father, who had expected her to live at home until married, Vivian left Holyoke after high school and pushed her way into the New York office of Pan Am, where she persuaded them to hire her as a stewardess, even though they were not hiring at the time.

At Pan Am, Vivian traveled the world, visiting her Greek homeland and the great cities of Europe and Asia. In Constantinople, she was received by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch (the eEquivalent of the Catholic pope) for tea, which pleased her father and won his admiration.

Later, Vivian moved to San Francisco so she could fly on Pan Am’s new fleet of jets that would take her to parts of the world rarely seen by Americans in the 1950s.

During this time, she met her husband-to-be Michael Pahos who was attending UC Berkley. After a quick courtship, they were married in her home state of Massachusetts.

After marriage, Vivian supported her husband through his remaining years at Berkley. Upon Mike’s graduation, they moved to Santa Barbara, where they raised their children Maria and Theo.

Vivian was an energetic woman with a cutting wit and a smile that could light up a room — and it often did. She was a dynamic hostess who presided over 2121 Chapala, a place as much a social institution for the community as it was a home for its occupants.

In the tradition of her ancestors, Vivian would welcome “drop-in visitors” of all ages, political persuasions, and religions, showering all of them with food and love.

Her authentic dishes were a culinary delight, and her skills in the kitchen were used not only for welcoming guests but for supporting the Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, where she and her late husband Michael Pahos were members almost their entire married life.

Vivian dedicated her life to her church community and ensured her family was rooted in the Greek Orthodox faith.

She held cooking workshops to prepare for the Greek Festival; was a long-time member of the Philoptochos Society, where she served as president for many years; worked as church secretary and helped publish a successful Greek cookbook.

She sang alto in Saint Barbara’s choir for more than 40 years, where many great friendships were made. If you wanted to know what was going on at the church, Vivian was the one you would ask.
 
Vivian is survived by her daughter Maria Benson and son-in-law Bruce Benson; her son Theo Pahos and daughter-in-law Leora Pahos; grandchildren Marie and Vivian Pahos; sisters Doris Henault and Alexandra Cobin; and many beloved nieces and nephews. May her Memory be Eternal!
 
Trisagion services will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept 5 at Welch-Ryce, 15 E. Sola St. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday Sept. 6 at Saint Barbara’s Greek Orthodox Church, 1205 San Antonio Road.
 
In lieu of flowers the family requests a gift to Saint Barbara’s Greek Orthodox Church or the Central Coast Alzheimer’s Association, https://www.alz.org/cacentralcoast.