By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 19, 2024-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), as well as the Greek and Cypriot communities, are mourning the loss of Constantine (Dinos) Iordanou after his unexpected passing on June 16 at the age of 74.
Dinos was inducted into the Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Fame in 2016.
Born on the island of Cyprus, he came to the United States in 1969. With an uncle in Astoria providing the roof over his head, Dinos’ first job was pumping gas at a Shell station. He also washed dishes in a nursing home, drove a cab and worked as a cook.
“You’ve got to earn your way through school and get on,” Dinos had explained that his father had told him. With his Dad’s voice in his head, he moved on and played soccer plus graduated from New York University with a degree in aerospace engineering.
His first career stop was Pratt and Whitney, then the AIG Insurance Company for 10 years, then to CV Starr which was part of AIG, where he was a partner. He later went on to Berkshire Hathaway, and became Chairman of the Board of Directors of Arch Capital Group.
He had been active with the Pancyprians since their beginning, helping to found the association in 1975, and he was one of their lifetime Trustees.
“I played for their soccer team when I was young,” he had said with pride, winning three US Open Cup titles and three Cosmopolitan Soccer League championships with the New York Pancyprian Freedoms in the late 1970s and early ‘80s. He also played professionally in Cyprus.
The Upper Brookville resident was also founding member of FAITH, a charitable organization for the advancement of Greek-Americans in Education. He was a Trustee for the Holy Child Academy, Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Roosevelt University and the College of Insurance.
His children all grew up in Eastern New York’s Olympic Development Program (ODP). Tina played at the University of Virginia, Danielle played at Northwestern and Alexandra went to William & Mary.Dinos graciously donated nearly $500,000 to Eastern New York’s Arch Capital Cup. More important than the money, he was a leader who inspired by his example.
We have lost a very good man.
With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 10 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log onto http://www.enysoccer.com/