BROOKSVILLE -- Dino Adamis was laid to rest yesterday at Brooksville Cemetery in an unmarked grave. His plot is stark and lonely. And that symbolized the last year of Adamis' life.  He died penniless, friendless and left no family in the United States. He wasn't rich. He wasn't a war hero or a politician.
He was just a man. And when he became sad or sick, he had no friends or family to help him.
"Every soul is precious," said Theona Hatzi, one of about 10 parishioners from St. Nicholas chapel that came to pay respect to Adamis.
     Adamis' suffering ended early May 8. He was riding his bicycle on U.S. 19 north of State Road 50 when he was struck from behind and killed by a tractor-trailer.
Not long before the accident, Adamis left Astoria, N.Y., hoping to start a new life in Florida. He didn't leave much behind. He had been living on the streets, was in poor health and the only money he had was given to him.
     At one time Adamis ran a clothing company in Astoria but he was forced to close it after becoming ill and had to spend two months in the hospital. With failing health and no income, he began sleeping in New York subway stations.
     Adamis knew he needed help and turned to the Greek-American community to get it.
He called on the St. Demetrios church in Astoria and was referred to a social worker with the church who was able to take care of Adamis' most immediate health concerns.
     But Adamis, with failing kidneys, an array of health problems and no money to purchase his prescription drugs needed more.
     Frustrated, he took his problem to the press. He befriended a reporter, Michael Pantziaros, at the National Herald, a Greek-American newspaper, who published stories about Adamis' plight.
     "He was a sad man," Pantziaros said.
     Adamis emigrated to the U.S. from Greece about 15 years ago. He told Pantziaros he had family in Greece, but hid his health and economic conditions because he didn't want them to worry.
     Several months later, Adamis bought a bus ticket to Tampa and left for the Suncoast.
   Costas Arahovitis, a business owner in Astoria, said Adamis was planning to come to Florida to start a new life.
     But Adamis knew the end was near. Shortly before he came to Florida he told Pantziaros that he wanted to return to Greece, that he could feel death nearing. But his doctors advised him not to travel.
     Ironically, it wasn't Adamis' failing kidneys and poor health that lead to his death, but instead a tragic accident.
     Adamis had no identification on him at the time of his death in Hernando County, but authorities found phone numbers in his pocket that lead them to the National Herald.
The Rev. Stanley Harakas, pastor of St. Nicholas Chapel in Brooksville, heard about Adamis' tragic story and immediately took responsibility. He offered to hold the services at his chapel, but with a parish of only about 40, knew he wouldn't be able to cover the $2,000 cost.
     Mike Aggeliadis, a Greek American businessman from New York, offered to pay for Adamis' burial and a makaria, a luncheon after the burial for relatives.
     Parishioners from St. Nicholas came to honor Adamis.
     Father Harakas is also raising money for a headstone to place on Adamis' grave. He would like to inscribe it with a passage from Matthew 25 that says, "I was a stranger and you took me in."
Those wanting to donate to Adamis' headstone can call 688-2382 for information.