Nicholas "Dino" Demopoulos

Nicholas �Dino� Demopoulos Nick Demopoulos was born March 29, 1929 in Meropi, a small village in southern Greece. Prior to his marriage to Fotoula Goumas-Demopoulos in 1957, Nick served with the Fifteenth Mission of the Greek Expeditionary Force, which was attached to the Fifteenth Infantry Regiment of the United States Army during the Korean War. The Greek forces were dispatched to the general staff of the U.S. Battalion on January 3rd 1953 and then repatriated back into the Greek Army on July 24th 1954. His military service during Korea earned him the UN Medal Decoration, and the Medal of the Korean Expeditionary Force. Nick was shot in the shoulder and received a Purple Heart as a result of the fighting in 1953 but continued service to its� completion in 1954. In recognition of his allied services during the Korean War, the United States Government granted him, along with his wife and children, expedited entry into the U.S. for citizenship. In 1969 Nick and his family came to America where they eventually found their way to Cape Girardeau. His first job in Cape was as a pizza cook for Tony�s Pizza on Broadway. Later he took over ownership of �Dinos� by Houck Field House and that�s how he became known as �Dino�. For many years Dinos Pizza was a landmark in Cape Girardeau and a maker of vast memories for thousands of SEMO students and Cape citizens as well. For those of you who remember him, I�m sure �Dino� greeting you with his big smile and heavy Greek accent reminded you of what a truly friendly, outgoing, and hard working man he was. The original dream of�America, land of opportunity� really shined thru Nick and was evident as he cooked �Pizza and Mojos� seven days a week, as late as 04:00 in the morning for the �late-nighters�. He eventually opened Dinos Too in Anna, IL. and Im positive the citizens of Anna have the same fond memories of him as well. His exuberant attitude and personality made an impression on everyone that knew him, and many have come to me and acknowledged just how wonderful their memories are of him and his pizzeria. His work ethic far out weighed what most of us feel is a hard days work. He instilled these values, morals, and his personality in me, his daughter and I hope his legacy continues in all his grand-children as well. Even though �Dino� deteriorated medically over the last few years, he never lost his ability to remember his Family, his Military Service, his Greek heritage, and that he was a proud U.S. citizen. Most of all, he remembered serving his �CUSTOMERS�.His spirit will shine through Dino Pizza. For all of you he made his life. Thank you to the nurses, nurse aides, and care givers of my fathers at Fountain Bleu, and also to the nurses, nurse aides, and care givers in his last months at Jackson Manor. Jackson Manors ability to keep their moral standards high dignified them as an admirable establishment. Nick was preceded in death by his mother Basiliki Petropoulos and father Konstantinos Demopoulos of Greece, as well as two brothers John and Peter. He is survived by his daughter Amalia DemopoulosPhillips and son-in-law Brian Phillips of Cape, Son Kosta (Gus)Demopoulos of Cape, Grandchildren Alexia and Nefeli Phillips of Cape, and Nikolas, Astraia, and Ioanna Demopoulos of Cape. Sisters Maria Nikolakeas and Angeliki Mintzas and brother George Demopoulos of Greece. A very special thank you to my very good friends and coworkers at St. Francis Medical Center in the ICU and my manager and most appropriately to Ford and Sons (Cliff) for their special support and management of my fathers final arrangements. May God bless your marvelous work and continue your path for others. A visitation will begin at 11:30AM on Friday February 11, 2011 at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel with a full traditional Greek-Christian Orthodox Funeral at noon. Father Daniel Morton of St. John the Theologian in Cape Girardeau will serve as priest and Father Joseph Strzelecki will serve as Con-Celebrant (Chanter). Burial will be at Fairmont Cemetery in Cape Girardeau. �There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.�....Galatians 3:28....

Tributes

Nicholas "Dino" Demopoulos

February 5, 2011