Rosemary (Mia) Thomas Dallas was affectionately known by her friends and family as ‘Mia,’ derived from her Greek name, ‘Erasmia.’ As a first generation Greek-American, Mia was an unsung trailblazer. As a precocious 15-year-old, she single-handedly managed the family grocery business, M&R Luncheonette, in Troy NY, while her father recuperated from surgery. Later, and against the wishes of her parents, she fought an uphill battle to be accepted and enroll into university. In her junior year of college, she created from scratch her own study abroad program to attend L’Institute Catholique de Paris – well before SUNY Albany even had study abroad programs. She even convinced a local banker to bankroll her voyage by ship to France. Upon her return and with her now impeccable French, she was easily accepted into a Masters of Advanced Education, and ever since, has been affectionately known by many hundreds of students as “Madame Dallas,” their French teacher.

Through her personal warm, calm demeanor and a teacher’s ability to communicate, Mia had an uncanny ability to connect with every person she met. She loved Greek music, food and dance, Moliere’s plays, entertaining family and friends at home with enormous meals, historical dramas and listening to ocean waves.

Born on April 27, 1941 in Syracuse NY to Anna and Haralambos (Harry) Moraites, Mia lived among a vibrant Greek community for her first 11 years. Her family moved to Troy NY to run a grocery store, where she blossomed in school, and finished off high school in Albany NY. After studying abroad in France and receiving a BA degree in French and a Masters Degree in Advanced Education, both from SUNY Albany, she worked as a French teacher in Liverpool NY, Bethlehem Central Junior High School and as the supervisor of student teachers at SUNYA’s Milne school.

After marrying, she put her career on pause for 12 years to raise her two children in Albany NY. Thereafter, the remainder of her teaching career and her fondest teaching memories were at St. Gregory’s School for Boys in Loudonville NY, where she retired as Dean of Faculty.

During her daughter’s high school years, her family hosted a French exchange student, Murielle Chaboud, for a year, who became a second daughter to the family, and the two families forged a lifetime friendship.

In her retirement years, she spent most winters at Cape Canaveral in Florida, where she made many more dear friends. She also continued her wanderlust, by travelling with Marie Arrao and other close friends and family to any destination that sparked her fancy, including India, South Africa, Egypt, Russia and frequent trips to Europe to visit family throughout Greece and her French family in Annecy. She participated in and co-led several spiritual journeys to Greece with Dr. Edward Tick, who invoked the Greek gods and mythology to heal the trauma and psychological wounds of his patients, particularly military veterans. She remained an avid reader, especially of historical novels and biographies, and belonged to several book clubs in Saratoga Springs, NY.

She was a lifetime communicant of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church in Albany, where she sang in the choir and was a member of the Daughters of Penelope and served as president during which she initiated a new college scholarship program for young Maids of Athena.

Mia passed away on October 8th, 2025 from ALS, at home in Saratoga Springs NY, surrounded by her loving family. She was predeceased by her sisters Helen Rores and Zoe Thomas. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Peter Dallas, and their children, Dr. Kristina Dallas (Robert Hill) and Dr. Mark Dallas (Eun Jung Choi), along with three grandchildren: Eleni Hill, Ana Hill and Taeo Dallas. She has numerous relatives in the United States, throughout Greece and dear friends in France. During her final year of illness, she lived with the family of her daughter, Kristina, who together with her caregiver Natalie Venon, cared for her through her final journey, with tenderness, patience and selfless devotion.

In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a contribution in Mia’s memory to St. Peter’s ALS Regional Center (518) 525-1629 or Saratoga Springs Community Hospice (518) 581-0800.

A wake will be held at Tebbutt’s Funeral Home in Albany on Sunday, October 12th from 2-5pm. A funeral service will be held the next morning at 11am at St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church in Albany and the burial will be at Graceland Cemetery in Albany.  

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