Shores chaplain Asimakoupoulos steps into retirement

Dee Paulsen told the crowd that for the last decade chaplain Greg Asimakoupoulos was the shepherd of their flock at Covenant Living at the Shores on Mercer Island. The Shores resident added that the chaplain challenged them to honor God and make a difference with others.

Through heartfelt speeches and uplifting songs in front of a packed Fellowship Hall on the afternoon of June 21, the Spiritual Life Committee led the way in unveiling Asimakoupoulos’ retirement celebration.

For the last 45 years, Asimakoupoulos served as a pastor at a host of congregations and said his decade at the Shores retirement community was personally the most meaningful and fulfilling time on his journey of spiritual service.

“It’s been 10 great years. I wanted to be able to retire while I’m still healthy and have energy to focus on our growing family (and other family needs),” he said. “I just think it’s a good time at 71. You’ve got to take it to the next step some time, so this seems like an appropriate time.”

Asimakoupoulos and his wife Wendy will continue to reside on the Island, he will remain in his chaplain position for the Mercer Island police and fire departments, will keep writing his column for the Reporter and will be involved in community outreach.

Following the event, the chaplain and author of copious books grinned, glanced into the crowd and said he’ll miss the people at the Shores the most.

“This group of people have become my social expression over this decade,” said Asimakoupoulos, adding that his best friends live at the Shores and it’s been Wendy’s congregation during his years as chaplain there. Lisa Eastman will now take over the role as chaplain at the Shores.

Mercer Island Police Department Chief Ed Holmes described Asimakoupoulos as a friend you’ve always known. Since the chaplain pens poems, the chief wrote one of his own and read it to the crowd. Holmes’ poem about Asimakoupoulos’ relationship with the police department contained the line, “A gray stormy day or a dark windy night, our chaplain named Greg always brings light,” which refers to the chaplain comforting families in need.

Another speaker, Shores retired executive director Bob Howell, said that forming relationships is one of Asimakoupoulos’ hallmarks.

“When we would meet one on one, he would always end with, ‘Bob, what can I pray for you about?’ And that meant so very very much to me as I made my way through the different episodes, especially COVID. That was probably of the three-and-a-half years I was here, the time that we struggled through the most,” he said.

Prayer was also key in Bob Bowen’s brotherly relationship with the chaplain. A former member of the Shores’ sales department, Bowen said, “The days that we would spend in each other’s offices talking about and praying for all of you really made my time here fruitful and it was a great blessing.”

Current Shores executive director Dan Scansen closed out the speeches segment of the celebration by thanking Asimakoupoulos for organizing a memorable consecration service shortly after Scansen took on his present leadership role about two years ago.

“I thank you so much for everything you’ve brought to our campus, truly the deep-rooted relationships, being a chaplain through the years of COVID is something that is no small feat in and of itself,” said Scansen, who said that Asimakoupoulos will be greatly missed and that everyone will send him prayers as he steps into a new season of his life.