Peter G. Mehas
Born: Oct. 1, 1939
Died: Sept. 28, 2013
Occupation: education leader, civic activist, outgoing Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame president.
More than 1,000 people celebrated the life of Fresno's longtime civic and education leader Peter Mehas on Friday, saying their final goodbyes to a man who many called larger than life and who was best known for his commitment to education in the central San Joaquin Valley.
Family and friends packed into St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Fresno to pay tribute to Dr. Mehas, who passed away suddenly at Saint Agnes Medical Center early Saturday morning.
He was remembered by his daughters as a man who believed in family, by friends as an educator and as St. George's Rev. Jim Pappas put it, as "an icon."
Dr. Mehas was a four-term Fresno County schools superintendent and served as secretary of education for former Gov. George Deukmejian. At the time of his death, he was a member of the California State University system Board of Trustees.
A Fresno native, he worked in education since the early 1960s, starting out his career as a teacher and coach at Roosevelt High School. He later worked in the Clovis Unified School District, eventually working his way up to associate superintendent in Clovis by the late 1980s.
Crowds numbering in the several hundreds filled chairs outside the church and in adjoining church buildings equipped with projection screens to stream the service.
Rev. Pappas led the procession into St. George's sanctuary with bells and incense, followed by Dr. Mehas' closest friends and family members, including his wife Demi and his daughters, Onna Mehas and Alethea Crespo.
After the service, friends gathered outside to swap stories and condolences about Dr. Mehas.
Former Fresno State President John Welty said Dr. Mehas cared deeply about teaching, a passion that poured over into most areas of his life.
"He taught me how to be part of a community, he taught me how to deal with failure, he taught me how to always be looking on the positive side and he's one of those people I'll never forget," he said.
Armen Bacon, who worked under Dr. Mehas during his time as Fresno County superintendent, said she looks back fondly on advice he frequently gave his leadership team.
"Dr. Mehas spoke often about the fire in his belly. Then he'd look at us and say, 'The morning you wake up without passion or fire in your belly, that's the morning you resign and go work somewhere else,'" she said. "As heartbroken and stunned we all were to hear of his passing, knowing he took his last breath with that fire still burning strong is somehow comforting and inspiring."
Peter George Mehas
Born: Oct. 1, 1939, the only son of Greek emigrants George and Sylvia Mehas (they ran the Fresno Malt Shop and Athenian Restaurant in downtown Fresno)
Died: Sept. 28, 2013
Education: Attended Fresno schools; graduated from Fresno High; attended Fresno City College, San Jose State, Fresno State; earned his masters from the University of California at Los Angeles and his doctorate from the University of Southern California.
Career: Taught civics and coached football at Roosevelt and Edison high schools; assistant principal, then principal at Clovis High; associate superintendent of instruction for Clovis Unified; Gov. George Deukmejian's adviser on education; superintendent of Fresno County schools; executive director of the Fresno Business Compact at Fresno State; California State University trustee; outgoing president of the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame.
Survivors: Wife, Demi Mehas; daughters Onna Mehas and Alethea Crespo; son-in-law Roberto Crespo; twin grand-daughters Andreanna and Isabella Crespo; sisters Tulla Chrisman and Georgia Golling
Published by the Fresno Bee.
Born: Oct. 1, 1939
Died: Sept. 28, 2013
Occupation: education leader, civic activist, outgoing Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame president.
More than 1,000 people celebrated the life of Fresno's longtime civic and education leader Peter Mehas on Friday, saying their final goodbyes to a man who many called larger than life and who was best known for his commitment to education in the central San Joaquin Valley.
Family and friends packed into St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Fresno to pay tribute to Dr. Mehas, who passed away suddenly at Saint Agnes Medical Center early Saturday morning.
He was remembered by his daughters as a man who believed in family, by friends as an educator and as St. George's Rev. Jim Pappas put it, as "an icon."
Dr. Mehas was a four-term Fresno County schools superintendent and served as secretary of education for former Gov. George Deukmejian. At the time of his death, he was a member of the California State University system Board of Trustees.
A Fresno native, he worked in education since the early 1960s, starting out his career as a teacher and coach at Roosevelt High School. He later worked in the Clovis Unified School District, eventually working his way up to associate superintendent in Clovis by the late 1980s.
Crowds numbering in the several hundreds filled chairs outside the church and in adjoining church buildings equipped with projection screens to stream the service.
Rev. Pappas led the procession into St. George's sanctuary with bells and incense, followed by Dr. Mehas' closest friends and family members, including his wife Demi and his daughters, Onna Mehas and Alethea Crespo.
After the service, friends gathered outside to swap stories and condolences about Dr. Mehas.
Former Fresno State President John Welty said Dr. Mehas cared deeply about teaching, a passion that poured over into most areas of his life.
"He taught me how to be part of a community, he taught me how to deal with failure, he taught me how to always be looking on the positive side and he's one of those people I'll never forget," he said.
Armen Bacon, who worked under Dr. Mehas during his time as Fresno County superintendent, said she looks back fondly on advice he frequently gave his leadership team.
"Dr. Mehas spoke often about the fire in his belly. Then he'd look at us and say, 'The morning you wake up without passion or fire in your belly, that's the morning you resign and go work somewhere else,'" she said. "As heartbroken and stunned we all were to hear of his passing, knowing he took his last breath with that fire still burning strong is somehow comforting and inspiring."
Peter George Mehas
Born: Oct. 1, 1939, the only son of Greek emigrants George and Sylvia Mehas (they ran the Fresno Malt Shop and Athenian Restaurant in downtown Fresno)
Died: Sept. 28, 2013
Education: Attended Fresno schools; graduated from Fresno High; attended Fresno City College, San Jose State, Fresno State; earned his masters from the University of California at Los Angeles and his doctorate from the University of Southern California.
Career: Taught civics and coached football at Roosevelt and Edison high schools; assistant principal, then principal at Clovis High; associate superintendent of instruction for Clovis Unified; Gov. George Deukmejian's adviser on education; superintendent of Fresno County schools; executive director of the Fresno Business Compact at Fresno State; California State University trustee; outgoing president of the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame.
Survivors: Wife, Demi Mehas; daughters Onna Mehas and Alethea Crespo; son-in-law Roberto Crespo; twin grand-daughters Andreanna and Isabella Crespo; sisters Tulla Chrisman and Georgia Golling
Published by the Fresno Bee.
Peter G. Mehas
Born: Oct. 1, 1939
Died: Sept. 28, 2013
Occupation: education leader, civic activist, outgoing Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame president.
More than 1,000 people celebrated the life of Fresno's longtime civic and education leader Peter Mehas on Friday, saying their final goodbyes to a man who many called larger than life and who was best known for his commitment to education in the central San Joaquin Valley.
Family and friends packed into St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Fresno to pay tribute to Dr. Mehas, who passed away suddenly at Saint Agnes Medical Center early Saturday morning.
He was remembered by his daughters as a man who believed in family, by friends as an educator and as St. George's Rev. Jim Pappas put it, as "an icon."
Dr. Mehas was a four-term Fresno County schools superintendent and served as secretary of education for former Gov. George Deukmejian. At the time of his death, he was a member of the California State University system Board of Trustees.
A Fresno native, he worked in education since the early 1960s, starting out his career as a teacher and coach at Roosevelt High School. He later worked in the Clovis Unified School District, eventually working his way up to associate superintendent in Clovis by the late 1980s.
Crowds numbering in the several hundreds filled chairs outside the church and in adjoining church buildings equipped with projection screens to stream the service.
Rev. Pappas led the procession into St. George's sanctuary with bells and incense, followed by Dr. Mehas' closest friends and family members, including his wife Demi and his daughters, Onna Mehas and Alethea Crespo.
After the service, friends gathered outside to swap stories and condolences about Dr. Mehas.
Former Fresno State President John Welty said Dr. Mehas cared deeply about teaching, a passion that poured over into most areas of his life.
"He taught me how to be part of a community, he taught me how to deal with failure, he taught me how to always be looking on the positive side and he's one of those people I'll never forget," he said.
Armen Bacon, who worked under Dr. Mehas during his time as Fresno County superintendent, said she looks back fondly on advice he frequently gave his leadership team.
"Dr. Mehas spoke often about the fire in his belly. Then he'd look at us and say, 'The morning you wake up without passion or fire in your belly, that's the morning you resign and go work somewhere else,'" she said. "As heartbroken and stunned we all were to hear of his passing, knowing he took his last breath with that fire still burning strong is somehow comforting and inspiring."
Peter George Mehas
Born: Oct. 1, 1939, the only son of Greek emigrants George and Sylvia Mehas (they ran the Fresno Malt Shop and Athenian Restaurant in downtown Fresno)
Died: Sept. 28, 2013
Education: Attended Fresno schools; graduated from Fresno High; attended Fresno City College, San Jose State, Fresno State; earned his masters from the University of California at Los Angeles and his doctorate from the University of Southern California.
Career: Taught civics and coached football at Roosevelt and Edison high schools; assistant principal, then principal at Clovis High; associate superintendent of instruction for Clovis Unified; Gov. George Deukmejian's adviser on education; superintendent of Fresno County schools; executive director of the Fresno Business Compact at Fresno State; California State University trustee; outgoing president of the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame.
Survivors: Wife, Demi Mehas; daughters Onna Mehas and Alethea Crespo; son-in-law Roberto Crespo; twin grand-daughters Andreanna and Isabella Crespo; sisters Tulla Chrisman and Georgia Golling
Published by the Fresno Bee.
Born: Oct. 1, 1939
Died: Sept. 28, 2013
Occupation: education leader, civic activist, outgoing Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame president.
More than 1,000 people celebrated the life of Fresno's longtime civic and education leader Peter Mehas on Friday, saying their final goodbyes to a man who many called larger than life and who was best known for his commitment to education in the central San Joaquin Valley.
Family and friends packed into St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Fresno to pay tribute to Dr. Mehas, who passed away suddenly at Saint Agnes Medical Center early Saturday morning.
He was remembered by his daughters as a man who believed in family, by friends as an educator and as St. George's Rev. Jim Pappas put it, as "an icon."
Dr. Mehas was a four-term Fresno County schools superintendent and served as secretary of education for former Gov. George Deukmejian. At the time of his death, he was a member of the California State University system Board of Trustees.
A Fresno native, he worked in education since the early 1960s, starting out his career as a teacher and coach at Roosevelt High School. He later worked in the Clovis Unified School District, eventually working his way up to associate superintendent in Clovis by the late 1980s.
Crowds numbering in the several hundreds filled chairs outside the church and in adjoining church buildings equipped with projection screens to stream the service.
Rev. Pappas led the procession into St. George's sanctuary with bells and incense, followed by Dr. Mehas' closest friends and family members, including his wife Demi and his daughters, Onna Mehas and Alethea Crespo.
After the service, friends gathered outside to swap stories and condolences about Dr. Mehas.
Former Fresno State President John Welty said Dr. Mehas cared deeply about teaching, a passion that poured over into most areas of his life.
"He taught me how to be part of a community, he taught me how to deal with failure, he taught me how to always be looking on the positive side and he's one of those people I'll never forget," he said.
Armen Bacon, who worked under Dr. Mehas during his time as Fresno County superintendent, said she looks back fondly on advice he frequently gave his leadership team.
"Dr. Mehas spoke often about the fire in his belly. Then he'd look at us and say, 'The morning you wake up without passion or fire in your belly, that's the morning you resign and go work somewhere else,'" she said. "As heartbroken and stunned we all were to hear of his passing, knowing he took his last breath with that fire still burning strong is somehow comforting and inspiring."
Peter George Mehas
Born: Oct. 1, 1939, the only son of Greek emigrants George and Sylvia Mehas (they ran the Fresno Malt Shop and Athenian Restaurant in downtown Fresno)
Died: Sept. 28, 2013
Education: Attended Fresno schools; graduated from Fresno High; attended Fresno City College, San Jose State, Fresno State; earned his masters from the University of California at Los Angeles and his doctorate from the University of Southern California.
Career: Taught civics and coached football at Roosevelt and Edison high schools; assistant principal, then principal at Clovis High; associate superintendent of instruction for Clovis Unified; Gov. George Deukmejian's adviser on education; superintendent of Fresno County schools; executive director of the Fresno Business Compact at Fresno State; California State University trustee; outgoing president of the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame.
Survivors: Wife, Demi Mehas; daughters Onna Mehas and Alethea Crespo; son-in-law Roberto Crespo; twin grand-daughters Andreanna and Isabella Crespo; sisters Tulla Chrisman and Georgia Golling
Published by the Fresno Bee.
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