Amalia Stratakos Tio

Amalia Stratakos - Tió, 84, devoted mother, grandmother, beloved educator, and cherished member of the Ithaca community, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 23, 2026, surrounded by family.

Amalia was born February 10, 1942, the daughter of Vasiliki and Constantine “Gus“ Stratakos of Ithaca, NY where she lived all her life.

She devoted her life to teaching language to students from around the world, earning her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Ithaca College in 1965 and her Master of Science in Spanish from Syracuse University in 1967. Early in her teaching career, Amalia taught at a community college and a private preparatory school. In 1986, she began her long career in Romance Studies at Cornell University and retired in 2010, concluding 24 years of service to the university.

Amalia developed the widely respected Medical Spanish course at Cornell University and taught it for two decades; a class that remains a significant cornerstone for pre-med students today. Through this course, she helped future physicians understand that language is more than vocabulary and culture, and embodies mind, body and spirit. Her work continues to influence her students long after her retirement.

Her excellence in the classroom was recognized throughout her career. In 1994, Amalia received the John M. and Emily B. Clark Distinguished Teaching Award, honoring her exceptional dedication to undergraduate education. In 2003, she was awarded a Certificate of Recognition as Outstanding Educator for having most influenced a Merrill Presidential Scholar — a testament to the profound and personal impact she had on her students.

Amalia served as advisor to Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) from 2000 to 2003, reflecting her commitment to supporting students both academically and personally. Friends and colleagues remember her not only as a gifted educator but as a radiant presence. Her impact on her students is shown through comments on her supportive nature, receptiveness, warmth, as well as her enthusiasm, energy, and sense of humor. Those who knew her best experienced these qualities not only at Cornell, but in every part of her life. She carried herself with intelligence, warmth, strength, wit, and deep devotion to family and community.

She was a lifelong, active member of St. Catherine’s Greek Orthodox Church in Ithaca, NY., a community that was deeply meaningful to her.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Zoé and Michael Ornstein, and their children, Angelena and Elijah, and her brother, John Stratakos and his children Chip (Sheila) and Tony (Chryssa) and their families.

Amalia’s legacy lives on in the thousands of students she guided, the people she uplifted, and the family she loved.

Calling hours will be held at St. Catherine’s Greek Orthodox Church (120 W Seneca St, Ithaca, NY 14850) on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 11am. A service immediately follows at 12 noon.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospicare (https://hospicare.org/) or Cayuga Medical Center (https://cayugahealth.org/giving/cayuga-medical-center-foundation/)

May her memory be eternal.