Mary Ann N. Zaloumis

Mary Ann Nicholson Zaloumis Of Bluffton, SC (formerly Fairfax, VA) Passed away on August 4, 2025. She was 88.

Mary Ann is survived by her loving husband Angelos Zaloumis, and would have celebrated 67 years of marriage in October. She is also survived by her brother, James Nicholson, children Christy (Brian) and George (Elsa). She was loving Yia Yia to Dennis (Katy), Mary Grace, and Angelos.

Mary Ann was born in Elkton, Maryland to Christopher and Mary Karaganis Nicholson. Her sister, Hope Ganoudis, predeceased her. She was a product of hard working Greek immigrant parents from Smyrna and Mytilene who ran the “North Street Hotel”, (est 1924) the oldest surviving business to this day in Cecil County.

She grew up with authentic small town values, and that is what made her so successful in connecting with people her entire life. She was an award - winning majorette in high school and beyond, and won the Maryland state majorette title among others. In the days when parades were commonplace, Mary Ann could be seen ahead of the marching band. No surprise that she took the title of “Miss Congeniality” in the Miss Delaware pageant.

Mary Ann met her future husband Angelos during the summer of 1958 at a Sr. GOYA party in Washington DC. They were engaged on their second date and married two months later at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Wilmington, DE, with a reception at the Golden Ballroom of the DuPont Hotel. They settled in Fairlington, VA and soon searched out other young Greek American couples who would eventually become the founders of St. Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church in Falls Church, VA. Mary Ann was active in the Ladies’ Philoptochos and Daughters of Penelope.

With only an associate business degree, Mary Ann managed to build an impressive resume. She found work outside the home once her children were school aged. As an entrepreneur she opened “Mary Ann’s Glass & China Shop” in Annandale and ran it for many years. She also learned real estate and became an agent.

Mary Ann will mostly be remembered for her vibrant personality and ability to connect with others. She cold-called congressional offices on Capitol Hill one day in the early 1970’s and landed the office manager position for Senator George Murphy. She later went on to work for Senator James Buckley, Congressman Jack Kemp, as well as Congressman Dan Lundgren. Mary Ann was also with the Fund for American Studies, an organization that allowed college students to experience working on Capitol Hill during the summer while studying at Georgetown University.

Mary Ann and Angelos lived in Fairfax, VA before relocating to Bluffton, SC in 2023 to be near their daughter.

Services will be private with family only.

May her Memory be Eternal ~