1909-1987
Arrived in Newark at age 7 from Greece. She began sending care packages back to her native village in Greece after WWII, and later sent packages to Vietnam servicemen all over the world. In 1969 the post office gave her a Humanitarian Award for her work.
Zois operated several boarding houses on High Street (in the 1960s 287 High) and, with her husband, was part owner of Washington Florist on Washington St.
Though as of 1963, she hadn’t gone back to Greece, she spent hundreds on packages each year saying, “I feel I do more good this way”. She said, “It is my way of thanking God for everything he has done for me.”
Photos from Hellenic Heritage Collection, Newark Public Library. Digitized on NJ Digital Highway.
Bibliography
“To People of Lithorian St. Nick Lives in Newark” Star Ledger Nov 25, 1963
“Mama Zois Again Becomes Lady Bountiful” Star Ledger Nov 10, 1965
“Mama’s Annual Visit to the Post Office” Star Ledger Nov 10, 1965
“Mama to Many” Star Ledger Nov 17, 1968
“Mama Santa Spreads 25th Year of Cheer Abroad” Star Ledger Nov 27, 1969
“Asimina Zois, 78, won postal award” Star Ledger Dec 23, 1987
Cummings Charles, “Greeks Cherished Loyalty to America, Love for Greece” Star Ledger Apr 26, 2001
Zois, Asmina, Newark News Morgue, Newark Public Library
Newark Women 