Stephen Cherpelis served in Korea with the United States army from 1960 to 1962 as a Sergeant in the Military Police, 3rd Army, 2nd Infantry Division, stationed at Kimpo, Ascom area command servicing the DMG 38th parallel.

Cherpelis and his wife of 59 years, Arete, have 4 daughters and 6 grandchildren. He is a Member of Leadership 100; the Archdiocesan Council; Past VP of the Direct Archdiocesan District; Archon Dikaiophylax of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; Emeritus Member of the National Council; Recipient of the Archdiocesan Medal of St. Paul; Member of the Board of Trustees of the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity where he served as President for several years, and currently serves as Vice-President.

Cherpelis also served as President of St. Nicholas Church, Flushing, NY, where the Hellenic School bears his and his wife Arete’s name. He was honored by his All Holiness Patriarch Vartholomew for his participation in the opening of the Cultural Center of E.R.T.O. in Constantinople.

He serves as benefactor of the St. Nicholas Church in Havana, Cuba; was honored by the St. Michael’s home of the aged; was honored by the Gala of the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity; was decorated with the prestigious Medal of Ellis Island; serves as benefactor for the St. Nicholas Church and National Shrine; and was a Founding Member of the Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomew Foundation.