Who We Are
Rizes Hellenic Genealogy Research, also known as RizesGen, was founded by John M. Daskalakis to help families reconnect with their Greek roots through professional genealogical research, historical documentation, and cultural heritage preservation.
What began as a personal interest in family history while John was working in education and technology gradually developed into a trusted research practice serving Greek-American families, members of the Greek diaspora, and clients seeking to document ancestral connections to Greece. Over time, his work expanded from family tree research into Greek records research, ancestral village identification, document retrieval, DNA analysis, digital preservation, and genealogical documentation for Greek citizenship by descent.
John M. Daskalakis is a professional Greek genealogist, digital archivist, author, and heritage speaker. He specializes in Greek-American genealogy, Greek family history research, Greek civil and municipal records, family registrations, male registers, immigration and naturalization records, and U.S.-to-Greece record correlation. His work often focuses on cases where names changed after immigration, ancestral villages were recorded incorrectly, or family stories need to be tested against historical records.
John completed Boston University’s Genealogical Research Principles course and has pursued continuing genealogical education through the National Genealogical Society and other professional development programs. He also completed Family History Academy’s Forensic Genealogy: Expert Witness training and Northwestern University’s Museum Studies Certificate, strengthening his work in forensic genealogy, evidence analysis, cultural heritage interpretation, archival research, and historical preservation.
In addition to his genealogical research, John is actively engaged in Greek-American historical scholarship and cultural heritage work. His research interests include Greek immigration, anti-Greek sentiment in the United States, Greek-American participation in American civic life, and the preservation of underrepresented Greek-American stories. He has also worked on applied heritage and museum-related projects involving Greek-American archival materials, historical photographs, community collections, and digital preservation.
RizesGen’s research approach combines professional genealogy, archival methodology, cultural context, and practical experience with both American and Greek records. The goal is not only to find names and dates, but to reconstruct documented family histories that help clients understand where their families came from, how they migrated, and how their stories fit into the broader Greek and Greek-American experience.
Professional memberships include the National Genealogical Society (NGS), the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B), the Utah Genealogical Association (UGA), the International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG), the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), the Greek American Chamber of Commerce, and the PanCretan Association of America.
Rizes Hellenic Genealogy Research also collaborates with trusted professionals and researchers in Greece and abroad when specialized local knowledge, record access, translation, paleography, or archival support is needed.
