Cleo Nicki Maletis (March 11, 1925 – November 9, 2009) was a Canadian-born American beauty pageant titleholder. She was crowned the 19th Mrs. America (contest), Ms. America in the Ms. America Pageant of 1956.

Life and family

Maletis was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada to Greek immigrant parents Thomas and Pagoula "Peggy" Michas and grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts, B.A. from the University of Washington in home economics, graduating in 1946. One year later on June 28, 1947 Cleo was married to Chris C. Maletis, Jr. in Vancouver. After becoming a U.S. citizen, the couple moved to Portland, Oregon, Portland, Oregon, where her husband had grown up. She became the mother of four boys: Chris Maletis, III (born 1948), Tom Maletis (born 1951), Ed Maletis (born 1954), and Rob Maletis (born 1957). While pregnant with her youngest son Rob, she became "Mrs. America 1957" while visiting numerous European countries as an honorary ambassador. During this time, Maletis became interested in the growing trend of working mothers in Denmark, praising the Danish nurseries that allowed for both parents to work; a trend not yet realized for 1957 suburban Portland. After retiring her crown to Linwood Findley, Maletis went to work for her husband's family beverage distributing business, Maletis, Inc., which in 1993 became Maletis Beverage and Columbia Distributing, the former now run by son Rob Maletis and latter by son Ed Maletis.

Death

Maletis suffered from Alzheimer's disease since 2002 and died on November 9, 2009, in Portland, Oregon surrounded by her family. She had four sons.Obituary of Cleo N. Maletis, ''The Oregonian''
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maletis, Cleo 1925 births American beauty pageant winners American people of Greek descent Canadian women philanthropists Canadian philanthropists Philanthropists from Oregon People from Portland, Oregon 2009 deaths Mrs. America (contest) delegates People from Saskatoon 20th-century American philanthropists University of Washington alumni Canadian emigrants to the United States American women philanthropists Canadian people of Greek descent Naturalized citizens of the United States Neurological disease deaths in Oregon Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in the United States 20th-century women philanthropists