Terry Jonethis is pictured during his time at Fort Niagara during World War II. Submitted photo

YOUNGSTOWN, N.Y. – The museum at Old Fort Niagara recently opened an exhibit focusing on Terry N. Jonethis and his contributions to the fort while stationed there during World War II.

Titled “Terry N. Joanethis: Artist, Musician, Soldier, Bronze Star Recipient,” the exhibit includes original artwork created in the early 1940s. These include designs for wall-sized murals, posters which won national competitions in support of the war effort. An avid photographer, there are many black and white photographs detailing every day life for the soldiers at Fort Niagara. In addition to his art and photo work, Jonethis was a bugler and his hand-written music is exhibited. He was a member of the Fort Niagara Band and president of the Band Alumni Association following the war.

Jonethis ultimately went to Europe with the 69th Division of the US Army and was awarded a Bronze Star. His march across Europe is also documented. Jonethis served five years in the Army, including the final months in Germany as the war came to an end.

Jonethis came to Jamestown from Albania in 1926 at age 10. He graduated from Jamestown High School and the Pratt Institute of Art in Brooklyn. He was an active citizen of Jamestown, co-founding Jonethis/Larson Advertising, supporting the city’s sesquicentennial celebration, and being heavily involved with Kiwanis International, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and many other organizations.

He began serving as an altar boy at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in 1926 at the age of 9 and founded its choir, which sang at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City. He was honored in 2001 with the Distinguished Athenagoras Medal and in 1989 with the medal of St. Romanos the Melodian, the patron saint of church musicians. While at the Pratt Institute of Art, he studied under Nicholas Roubanis, director of the royal band in Egypt before coming to the United States.