Laskaris, Alexander Kenneth 32, of St. Paul, MN, died on May 29, 2021, in his apt. in Brooklyn, NY, from a dilated heart. Alex is survived by his parents, Nancy and George Laskaris, his brothers, Perry and Zachary Laskaris, and maternal grandmother, Gloria Yost. Alex also leaves behind aunts, uncles, cousins, many friends and his beloved dog, Penny. Alex had been living in NY for several years, but returned to St. Paul in the summer of 2020 pending a 3 1/2 month road tour of the U.S. beginning in August. Alex had recently returned to Brooklyn, N. Y., in April of 2021. He lived alone, but was in a committed relationship with Arielle Shannon. Alex was a 2007 graduate of Highland Park H.S. in St. Paul and a 2011 graduate of Carnegie Mellon School of Design in Pittsburgh. He was a self employed web designer who dedicated his talents to non-profit organizations that support social justice. For the City Bureau of Chicago, Alex was the lead designer of the website for documenters.org giving everyone access to civic power. For the Invisible Institute, also of Chicago, he designed the ground breaking Citizens Police Data Project (CPDP), cpdp.co/ giving the public access to police discipline records. In addition to his professional work, Alex was close to publication of a book of photographs of his experience living in N. Y., entitled Faith, to be completed by his editor and partner. In college, Alex created a wooden block strategy game named Blocko, which was in production using wood sourced from a tree from Alex's family home. The game will be completed and distributed by his creative partner and friends. Alex was known and admired as a graffiti artist here and in N. Y. and was instrumental in shaping the mural program at Hope Community Ctr. in Mpls. during the initial stages. His cousin, Michael, described Alex as one who "had a huge heart [and] was an artist and an activist at his core." Alex's friends have shared that he had made them better people just for having been part of their lives. His close friend, Harry, says, [T]he beauty that Alex brought to our lives feels separate from how much time we had with him." A memorial service will be held to celebrate Alex's life on July 10, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at Grace University Lutheran Church, 324 SE Harvard St., Mpls, MN 55414. For those who are not fully vaccinated against COVID 19 or are otherwise unable to attend, the service will be "live streamed" on facebook.com/… and posted on Grace University Lutheran Church YouTube. youtube.com/channel/… shortly thereafter. You will need to be logged into a Facebook account in order to livestream. Memorials can be sent to Grace University Lutheran Church at the above address. Name Alex Laskaris Memorial Fund in the memo line. You may also donate on-line at graceattheu.org (GivePlus,view full site, enter name of fund on page 2). Funds will be distributed to organizations important to Alex such as Hope Community Ctr. in Mpls. and Assemble Pittsburgh-A Community Space for Arts + Technology in Pittsburgh.
Alexander Kenneth Laskaris
Grace University Lutheran Church, 324 SE Harvard Street, Minneapolis, MN 55414
11:00 AM, Saturday July 10th, 2021
Free parking is available in the underground church lot and the U of MN hospital ramp, both across the street from the church. Coupons will be available in the church for exiting the hospital ramp. The church is also a half block away from the Green line light rail East Bank stop.
Grace University Lutheran Church, 324 SE Harvard Street, Minneapolis, MN 55414
10:00 AM, Saturday July 10th, 2021
See above for parking information.
Grace University Lutheran Church
Donations from the memorial fund have been made to Hope Community Center in Minneapolis, Juxtaposition Arts in Minneapolis, Walker West Music Academy in Saint Paul, Assemble in Pittsburgh, Red Lantern Bikes in Pittsburgh and Free Ride Bicycles in Pittsburgh. Thank you all for your generous contributions.
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