James CORDAS

6 JUL 1928 - 5 NOV 2021

• BIRTH: 6 JUL 1928, Vólos, Magnisia, Thessalia, Greece
• DEATH: 5 NOV 2021, South Bend, St Joseph, IN

INDEX

[N30195] James Cordas
July 6, 1928 ~ November 5, 2021 (age 93)

James Cordas, of South Bend, passed away on Friday, November 5, 2021 at Memorial Hospital. He was born in Volos, Greece to the late Konstantinos Cordas and Athena (Kavvadia) Corda.James graduated high school in Greece where he studied economics before leaving for a better education. After coming to America, he attended the University of Kentucky on a scholarship. After 2 years he received a scholarship at the University of Chicago where he studied political science and received an MA in socioeconomic planning. After doing free-lance consulting he became a member of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and dealt with International Monetary Market. He also taught foreign exchange trading and worked on the committee to begin interest rate futures at the exchange. He did a lot of volunteer work teaching English as a second language through the Chinese-American Association and the Korean-American League and prepared immigrants for their citizenship exam through Citizenship English. James became interested in bridge while still a student and found out he could make extra money playing rubber bridge. When living in Chicago he led a group of volunteers who helped new citizens to register to vote. In 2000 his group on the north side of Chicago registered a record number of 1650 new voters. Friends at SBBC remember him as an excellent bridge player, a man of great curiosity, and a lover of opera. His family will remember him for his love of gourmet cooking, his love of politics and being the rock of the family. James is survived by his great niece, Eleni Andreou of Greece. Also surviving are the daughter of his life partner, Suzanne Watson, Diana, along with five grandchildren. Suzanne passed on October 22, 2021. James was also preceded by his sisters, Georgia, and Bessy and Suzanne’s daughter, Monica.No services will be held at this time. Palmer Funeral Home - Guisinger Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the Cordas family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.