Peter P. Demis

Peter was born in Denver on the 5th of November 1937, the third of six children, to Ann and Peter S. Demis.  He attended East Denver High School and the University of Colorado.  Peter then enlisted in the US. Army, and was stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii.  With the passing of his father in 1962, however, Pete’s military career came to an end.

He returned to Colorado to become the patriarch of his family and to take over his father’s real estate investment business.  Despite his young age, he rose to the challenge, skillfully overseeing, building and diversifying the family firm.

Peter (known affectionately as “Sheik” by his family) was a quiet, dignified man,

whose life was centered on his home and his family.  He raised three beautiful daughters with compassion and devotion, and their characters were formed, along with those of all of his greater family, by the principled life led by this strong, good man.

As a child, Pete learned to hunt and fish from his Uncle Pete Zervas.  He passed along his great love of the outdoors to his brothers and nephews, who accompanied him on many adventures.

His lifelong passion, however, was the game of golf.  From the age of eight, Peter caddied for his father and he practiced golf incessantly.  He displayed a natural ability and by his late teens had risen to the rarefied level of "scratch" golfer with a near zero handicap.  While in the military, Pete honed his skills on the beautiful Hawaiin courses.  In the 1960's and 70's, he entered and won many golf

tournaments, including the Colorado Open.  Unbeknownst to most people, the most rarefied shot in golf is not a "hole in one" but rather a "double-eagle"or “albatross” (in the hole in three on a 500 yard par-5).  Peter had not just one, but two

double-eagles in tournament play.  In those days, these accomplishments were recorded in local newspapers.  His love of golf persevered throughout his life.  The more challenging the course, the more he enjoyed it.

Peter had an astonishing depth and breadth of knowledge on every subject and a

great sense of humor.  He enjoyed reading and had a remarkable memory until the day he died.  Sheik could cook a fine meal, iron a shirt and replace a furnace.  He appreciated fine motors, fine timepieces and fine scotch.  He was also an inveterate storyteller!

We will miss those stories Shiek/Dad.  We love you and we thank you for all that you’ve given us.

Peter is survived by daughters Regina (Tyler) Griemsman and Crystal Demis, both of

Billings Montana; grandchildren Theodore, Riley Ann, Athena and Stetson; sister

Sondra Pappas; brothers Spero (Debra) Demis and Ted (Terri) Demis of Denver, along

with numerous nieces and nephews.

Peter was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved daughter Christina; sisters

Elaine Christy and Carol Koclanes; and brothers-in-law George Christy, George

Koclanes and Deno Pappas.

Funeral service Wednesday, October 25, 10:30 a.m. at St. Catherine Greek Orthodox Church, 5555 South Yosemite Street, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111.  Internment immediately following at Fairmount Cemetery.

Gifts in Peter’s memory may be made to St. Catherine Greek Orthodox Church or a charity of your choice.