Stella Iaconis
Dublin Core
Title
Stella Iaconis
Subject
Source
Women in Nevada History: A Legacy Digital Project
Publisher
Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN)
Rights
This resource is available for education and research purposes. This collection is a collaboration and combination of various projects including, but not limited to; the Women in Nevada History: A Legacy Digital Project, the Nevada Women’s Archives, the Las Vegas Women Oral History Project and the Makers: Women in Nevada History Project, a co-production of the Women's Research Institute of Nevada and VegasPBS. The text, images, audio and video in this collection are under copyright by different repositories and may not be reproduced without express written consent of the appropriate entities.
Person Item Type Metadata
Work/Contribution
Early Las Vegas resident
Birth Date
September 16, 1910
Birthplace
Arrival in Las Vegas
1912
Death Date
January 18, 1998
Interviewer
Date of Interview
February 26, 1976
May 14 and September 1997
May 14 and September 1997
Biographical Text
In 1912, the Champo family, Jacina and Manuel, along with their baby daughter immigrated to Las Vegas. They lived first at the Union Hotel downtown, at Main and Bridger. The family then bought a ranch three miles south of what is Henderson today. Manuel Champo raised produce and sold it in Las Vegas.
In 1918, Stella Champo began attending school at the Las Vegas Grammar School. When in high school, her family paid for her to board with families in town during the week. In 1927, her mother died and Stella decided to quit school. Maude Frazier, the principal at the High School, tried to persuade Stella to stay at school. However, Stella had no more interest in school and at eighteen years old, she started her career as a waitress.
Her first job was at a small Italian restaurant at the Union Hotel where she learned the business. She worked as a waitress and cashier and when P.O. Silvagni opened the Apache Hotel at Second and Fremont, she went to work there. Stella continued to work at the Apache until she moved to Los Angeles where she worked as a waitress for eighteen years.
Stella married John Iaconis in 1953 and both John and Stella went to work at the Sahara Hotel. Stella was a showroom waitress and John was a tailor with his own valet shop in the Sahara Hotel. Stella worked in a showroom at Sahara for three years because it was physically demanding work. Stella went to work at Larry’s where she stayed for twenty years.
Stella continued to live in Las Vegas until her death on January 18, 1998.
Photo courtesy of UNLV Special Collections. May not be reproduced without the special permission of UNLV Special Collections.
In 1918, Stella Champo began attending school at the Las Vegas Grammar School. When in high school, her family paid for her to board with families in town during the week. In 1927, her mother died and Stella decided to quit school. Maude Frazier, the principal at the High School, tried to persuade Stella to stay at school. However, Stella had no more interest in school and at eighteen years old, she started her career as a waitress.
Her first job was at a small Italian restaurant at the Union Hotel where she learned the business. She worked as a waitress and cashier and when P.O. Silvagni opened the Apache Hotel at Second and Fremont, she went to work there. Stella continued to work at the Apache until she moved to Los Angeles where she worked as a waitress for eighteen years.
Stella married John Iaconis in 1953 and both John and Stella went to work at the Sahara Hotel. Stella was a showroom waitress and John was a tailor with his own valet shop in the Sahara Hotel. Stella worked in a showroom at Sahara for three years because it was physically demanding work. Stella went to work at Larry’s where she stayed for twenty years.
Stella continued to live in Las Vegas until her death on January 18, 1998.
Photo courtesy of UNLV Special Collections. May not be reproduced without the special permission of UNLV Special Collections.
Bibliography
Stella Iaconis, “An Interview with Stella Iaconis, an Oral History Conducted by Gary Gione” [transcript], Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas (1976), Special Collections and Archives, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Stella Champo Iaconis, “An Interview with Stella Champo Iaconis, an Oral History Conducted by Kay Long” [transcript], Las Vegas Women Oral History Project (1997), Special Collections and Archives, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Guide to the Stella Champo Iaconis Papers. Special Collections and Archives. University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Collection # MS- 00122
Stella Champo Iaconis, “An Interview with Stella Champo Iaconis, an Oral History Conducted by Kay Long” [transcript], Las Vegas Women Oral History Project (1997), Special Collections and Archives, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Guide to the Stella Champo Iaconis Papers. Special Collections and Archives. University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Collection # MS- 00122
Collection
Citation
“Stella Iaconis,” Makers Teaching Modules, accessed October 5, 2026, https://mail.makersteachingmodules.sites.unlv.edu/items/show/58.