George Demosthenous

George Demosthenous, 87, of Kingston, NY passed away peacefully on April 7th, 2015. He will be remembered for his kindness of spirit, enthusiasm for life and deep love for his family and friends.


Born on May 21, 1927 in Tochni, Cyprus to Fostira and Demosthenes Stassi. George always had a special place in his heart for his motherland; 3 siblings still live in Europe.


As a teen he left Cyprus and spent time living and working in England before coming to live in the United States in pursuit of the American Dream. After immigrating to the US, George lived in Bayone, NJ. It was on a day trip upstate that he visited a coffee shop in Catskill and met his wife of 61 years, Vassiliki (Kiki) Pavlopoulos. George and Kiki were married on June 20, 1954 and remained devoted to one another until the time of his death. After marrying they relocated to the Kingston - New Paltz area, a place they called home for the remainder of George's life. They spent the first 25 years of their marriage in Kingston, NY, where they raised their 3 sons. During this time George worked at the Park Diner, and became a warm and welcoming face in the community.


In 1969 he partnered with his dear friend and Park Diner co-worker, Bob Dariotis, to build the Plaza Diner in New Paltz. For 36 years these best friends - who shared the same birthday - owned and operated the business together. George and Kiki moved their home to New Paltz for 25 years where they warmly entertained friends and family.


In 1984 George, along with his wife and sons, opened the Hillside Manor Restaurant in Kingston, NY. Originally a small restaurant, George oversaw its expansion into a well-known wedding and reception venue which remained in the family until 2014. Over the years he was delighted to host many dignitaries at the restaurant, including President Bill Clinton and his wife, First Lady Hillary Clinton, and baseball legend, Mickey Mantle. His most cherished guest was good friend, Congressman Maurice Hinchey. The two men traveled to Cyprus together with George acting as the Congressman's interpreter during a session of the Cypriot Parliament; at this meeting Hinchey addressed Parliament and spoke of George Demosthenous being a great example of perseverance and someone who had achieved the American Dream. George and Kiki were honored to be guests of the Cypriot President at a State Dinner.


His greatest joy was his family. "Pappou" - as he was fondly called by his grandchildren - loved cooking dinners for them using vegetables picked from the gardens he tended and he always had extra seats at the table for any friends who wanted to join them. He especially cherished spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren and extended family at the vacation home he built in Irakleio, Greece and, in recent years, at his home in Naples, FL. George visited Naples with his son Jim and in-laws, Spyros and Evan Pappas, in January of this year - spending leisurely lunches looking out on the water and breathing in the sea air which reminded him of his Cypriot homeland. In later years, Pappou's American Dream shifted from building a successful business to seeing his grandchildren embrace the opportunities this country offers. He was proud to see his first grandchild and namesake, George, enter medical school this past year and had no doubt the futures of the rest of his grandchildren he adored so much would be as bright.

He is survived by his wife, Kiki; his sons, Denni Demosthenes and wife, Joan, Deno Demosthenes, James Demosthenes and wife, Annie; and the joy of his life - his seven grandchildren, George, Peter, Georgia, Vasos, Christina, Evangelia and Elisabeth; and many beloved relatives in the United States, Cyprus, Greece, Switzerland and England.


George was a member of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Kingston, NY and enjoyed being a part of the close-knit Cypriot/Greek community in the area. Many of the St. George parishioners have become like family to the Demosthenous' over the past 5 decades. He also took joy from the close relationships he formed with several members of the Bruderhof community over the past 20 years, spending hours talking with them and trading gardening tips. Always most at home in a restaurant setting, George visited with friends and family at the Deitz Stadium Diner, Dallas Hot Wieners and Santa Fe Uptown until the last weeks of his life.


George was always the life of any party, and his memory will continue to fill any room with laughter, love and smiles


A celebration of George's life will be held at Keyser Funeral & Cremation Service, 326 Albany Ave., Kingston, NY 12401, on Monday April 13th from 4pm to 8pm with a prayer service being held at 7:30pm. The funeral procession will form on Tuesday April 14th at 9am at the funeral home and proceed to St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Kingston where at 10am the funeral service will take place. Burial will follow in Montrepose Cemetery, Kingston.


In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the St. George Greek Orthodox Church Youth Group - care of St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 294 Greenkill Avenue, Kingston, NY 12401


You may leave a condolence for the family at www.KeyserCarr.com