Dr. Christos Constantinos Chamis

Dr. Christos Constantinos Chamis was born on May 16, 1930, in Sotira, Northern Epirus which was then Greece and now Albania. As a youth, he enjoyed singing, dancing, playing the harmonica, and most of all, he was passionate about learning. Despite his gregarious spirit, he experienced a lifetime of suffering during his youth including separation from his father, the premature death of his sister, and war that led to the death of many friends and the closure of the church and school in his village. Despite these tough times, he always carried hope for a better future. Following Albania’s annexation of Northern Epirus, in 1947 he escaped over the mountains with his mother to freedom. He subsequently came to America in March 1948 where he met his father for the first time.

Christos worked tirelessly in a factory in Cleveland, Ohio during the day and attended night school to learn English. Christos became a US Citizen and was proud to serve as a US Marine (1951-1952). The GI bill enabled Christos to attend and graduate from Fenn College with a BS in Civil Engineering (1958). Christos’ passion for learning eventually led to him obtaining a master’s degree in (1962) and PhD (1967) in Engineering Mechanics with a focus on computational structural mechanics from Case Institute of Technology. During his schooling, in 1961 he met the love of his life, Alice Yanosko, during a college dance for international students. They married in 1966 and remained married for 58 years.

In 1968, Chris joined the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Lewis (now Glenn) Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, where he pursued a 45-year career, retiring at the age of 82 as a Senior Aerospace Scientist in the Research and Technology Directorate. Chris’s pioneering work in composites led to 3 patents (ranging from an exoskeletal engine to a noiseless hair dryer) and over 500 publications. His work spanned over four decades, from 1968 to 2012, during which he developed computational methods and computer codes for 3-D inelastic analysis, probabilistic structural analysis, structural tailoring, and high-temperature composite mechanics across a wide variety of aerospace and jet engine applications. Chris was dedicated to mentoring and teaching the next generation of engineers; he was responsible for the NASA Glenn/University graduate research program for 12 years and taught graduate level engineering curriculum at Cleveland State, University of Akron and Case Western Reserve. He was a reviewer of technical proposals for National Science Foundation (NSF), the Army and Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). Chris thrived in developing new composite materials, collaborating with esteemed colleagues, including industry and academic partners, fostering small businesses through the small business innovative research (SBIR) program, and planning, organizing and sharing his research findings at international conferences and technical publications. Yes, Chris was the one in the front row who always asked the most prescient and, at times, provocative questions of his colleagues.

Chris received numerous awards and honors during his storied career, including the 1992 Inaugural Aircraft Engine Technology Award in Cologne, Germany, the 2003 NASA Distinguished Service Medal in Washington DC, and the Abe Silverstein Medal for Outstanding Research Leading to Practical Applications. Dr. Chamis was also selected as a fellow in American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) 1991 beginning the remarkable run of recognition for his substantiative contributions by internationally recognized professional organizations including: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Fellow 1994, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Fellow 1994, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Fellow 1995, Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE) Fellow 1996, Society of Automotive/Aerospace Engineers (SAE) Fellow 2003, and American Society for Composites (ASC) Fellow 2007. Dr. Christos Chamis resides on the wall of honor at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

For all of Chris’s many professional accomplishments, his dedication to supporting his immediate family in the US and his extended family worldwide was aspirational. Christos was an exceptional Greek dancer and was always found at the front of the line performing and supporting the flashiest dances. Christos and Alice chose to raise their children in Westlake, OH with the support of his beloved Cleveland Greek community. Christos was a dedicated father, always home for dinner, and a constant verbal presence at youth sporting events. Christos’ pursuit of academic excellence inspired his children’s pursuit of academic and professional success in engineering and medicine. Chris and Alice shared a passion for travel with their family, exploring all the US and Canada and over 50 international destinations. Everything God created Christos Constantinos Chamis to be and accomplish; he gave it his all. He taught his family and friends the value of finding your passion, keeping your commitments and never giving up hope.

Despite the early hard-ships he faced, Chris retained a hearty zest for life and his family will miss his near-constant whistling, singing, cracking jokes and one-of-a-kind laugh. Left to treasure his memory are his loving wife, Alice; his children Chrysanthie (Mike), Anna Lisa, and Constantinos (Anita); and grandchildren Anastasia, Pete, Eva, and Meru. He was preceded in passing by his parents, Anastasia Kyriakos Gianos (d. 2003) and Constantinos Michael Chamis (d. 1969), and his sister Chrysanthie (d. 1945). Visitation will be on Friday May 2, 2025 at Yurch Funeral home in Parma, Ohio followed by a funeral service and burial.

The family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service.