Tamara Clement Gianis

    Tamara Clement Gianis, a sculptor who worked in marble and alabaster, died at her house in East Hampton on Oct. 22. She was 83, and had suffered from pneumonia.

    Ms. Gianis, who was born in New York City on Nov. 2, 1928, began visiting East Hampton as a child, when her family had a house on Jericho Road.

    About 55 years ago, she and her husband, Socrates George Gianis, bought their own house on Ocean Road here, and became part-time residents, while also living in New York City. They moved here full time about 20 years ago, after retiring. Mr. Gianis died in 2010.

    The daughter of Jean Clement and the former Victoria Boschko, Ms. Gianis attended the Horace Mann School and graduated from the Bronxville (N.Y.) High School. She earned a degree in psychology from Barnard College, after studying at the Sorbonne in Paris for a year. She also did graduate work at Georgetown University, studying to become a simultaneous translator in Russian and English.

    Ms. Gianis had studied and worked at the SculptureCenter in New York City. In East Hampton, she showed her work periodically at the Arlene Bujese Gallery, which was both in Southampton and on Newtown Lane, East Hampton, and in Guild Hall’s annual members show.

    In the city, she had volunteered at Channel 13, the PBS television station. She also was a member of the East Hampton Ladies Village Improvement Society.

    Surviving Ms. Gianis are two sons, Alexander H. Gianis of East Hampton and Socrates George (Rick) Gianis Jr. of Sag Harbor, and five grandchildren. A daughter, Victoria Gianis, died in 1998.  

    “She was a wonderful lady. She had a great sense of humor,” Alexander Gianis said.

    A service was held on Oct. 27 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in East Hampton, with burial at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in East Hampton.

    Memorial donations have been suggested to East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach 11978 or to St. Luke’s Church, 18 James Lane, East Hampton 11937.