Ioannis (John) Ktenas

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Yanni loved Karya, the mountain village his family called home.

Ioannis (John) Ktenas passed peacefully at home on August 20, 2026, with Ann, his wife, and Bianca, their daughter, keeping vigil. Yanni battled pancreatic cancer for several months and was peaceful and accepting of his death, confident that he lived a full, vibrant and rewarding life.

Yanni was born on the Greek Island of Lefkada on March 18, 1949, at the end of the Greek Civil war. He loved Karya, the mountain village his family called home. He grew up surrounded by uncles, aunts and all manner of cousins. His family moved to Athens to take part in the building boom of the 50s, but he always returned home to Lefkada.

At the age of 17, Yanni came to Washington DC where he lived with his godmother and her young family. He began taking college classes while working as a dishwasher, busboy, and eventually waiter at area family restaurants. College proved no match for adventure, for as soon as he had saved enough money, Yanni bought a Trans Am and took off with “the hippies” to see the country. He spent time in New York, Arizona, Utah and California. He became enthralled with flamenco in New York and fell in love with the beautiful austerity of the desert Southwest. His strongest love however was early rock music. Yanni had an encyclopedic knowledge of bands, songs and musicians of the 60s and 70s. Time for fun came to an end, so Yanni sold his car in LA and flew back to DC to begin working in earnest. He was perhaps persuaded by a visit from his father who informed him he did not send him to America to fool around and he had better buckle down.

Yanni went back to work in the families’ several restaurants but his heart wasn’t in it. He was always interested in design, fashion and luxury goods which led him ultimately to jewelry. In 1977, Yanni applied for a job with Bailey Banks & Biddle, a high-end fine jewelry store at Tysons Corner, accompanied by his cousin Spiro, who lent both moral support and a better English vocabulary. Yanni was hired, perhaps partly due to his dashing good looks and European manners. He thrived and excelled there. He worked any extra shifts available, educated himself by soaking up the knowledge of other salespeople and made himself memorable to any customers who walked in the door. Soon he was the top salesperson at the store and someone others would turn to for advice.

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Yanni's 38 years with Tiffany & Co was legendary.

When Neiman Marcus opened their store in Tysons in 1988, they recruited Yanni for their fine jewelry salon. He loved it there and his wardrobe definately improved, but it was too sedate and quiet for Yanni. So when Tiffany & Co opened their first store in the DC area, Yanni jumped at the chance to work there and he absolutely loved it.

Yanni’s 38 years with Tiffany & Co was legendary. He easily acquired loyal customers because of his knowledge and honesty. If he did not like a piece of jewelry for you, he would let you know and then find the perfect item precisely for you. He looked at his role as helping his clients acquire a jewelry collection over a lifetime. In 2009 Tiffany’s new owners decided to clean house and Yanni, along with hundreds of other employees, was offered early retirement. Frankly, it was an offer too good to pass up. Yanni puttered around the garden and drove Ann crazy for a couple months, before Tiffany came to their senses and asked him to return to work on a part-time basis. Prior to retiring, Yanni had been the top salesperson at Tiffany & Co worldwide - even beating out the top salespeople at the flagship Fifth Avenue store. Then he did it for seven years in a row.

Retirement suited Yanni perfectly. He continued meeting customers by appointment, offering the same care and attention he always had. He celebrated with them at weddings and family events, watching their lives unfold. His greatest joy came from helping the next generation — selling engagement rings to the sons and daughters of the couples he once guided through the very same moment.

Yanni’s most cherished memories from his years at Tiffany were the friendships he built. His beloved manager, Diane Brown, who sadly succumbed to cancer. His Texas counterpart, Don Weissman, stayed in touch faithfully, their decades‑long friendship marked by warmth, humor, and unwavering support. TJ and Sylvester kept Yanni informed of their families and called often. To the many, many friends Yanni held dear — the family apologizes if any names are missing. He talked about you often.

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His greatest joy came from helping the next generation — selling engagement rings to the sons and daughters of the couples he once guided.

When he wasn’t working, Yanni loved to travel. He made it a priority to return to Greece every other year, spending time with his mother, Zoe, and brother, Mixali, in Athens before relaxing on the island of Lefkada. Ann introduced Yanni to her family’s favorite vacation spot - Duxbury Massachusetts - and Yanni fell in love with it instantly. He loved the slow pace, the quiet beauty of the ocean and windswept New England sand dunes. Hawaii was another place close to Yanni’s heart, made even more meaningful when his daughter Bianca was married to Jordan on Oahu. Those trips blended joy, family, and the sense of peace he always found near the ocean.

In later years, Yanni would enjoy gardening and taking his grandsons, Landon and Banks, to the park or on walks around the neighborhood. Yanni was happiest handing the boys nuts from his pocket or sneaking chocolates past their parents. The boys quickly learned that Papou always carried a little “contraband,” and they could count on him for something delicious tucked away just for them.

Yanni is survived by Ann, his wife; Bianca, his daughter; grandsons, Landon and Banks, along with their father Jordan Karem; and siblings Georgia, Eleni and Mixali.

In memory of Yanni, the family requests that gifts be made to Goodwin Living Foundation in support of Goodwin Hospice, 4800 Fillmore Avenue, Alexandria VA 22331, www.bit.ly/hospice-donate.