Demetrios “Jimmy” Simotas

Passed away January 10, 2022, in Concord, California. Demetrios was born July 27, 1928, in Kornellos, Kefalonia Greece. He is survived by his wife Kyriaki “Tula” of 65 years, his two children Sevasti (Joseph) and Anastasios “Ernie” (Lori), his grandchildren Demetra, Demetri & Zoe and two great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his siblings Harry & Tina. He is survived by his sister Eliana and many nephews.

Demetrios’s childhood was commandeered by World War II, his education cut short by the Nazi occupation. He went on to serve in the Greek Navy and then the Merchant Marines for nine years. He shared stories of his travels, his favorite being the night Cuba fell to revolutionaries: he was escorted out of a bar in Havana and back to his ship. After returning to Greece in 1959 Demetrios left everything behind and jumped ship in New York to find his bride in Philadelphia. He and Kyriaki moved to San Francisco to work at Rocco’s Fine Foods on Mission Street in the Excelsior District, a business he eventually purchased and ran until his retirement in 1993. Demetrios welcomed everyone to Rocco’s through his open kitchen and Greek hospitality. Everyone was impressed with his ability to commit orders shouted at him during service to memory. Most remember him as an avid gardener, exceptional chef, tremendous jokester and storyteller.

Demetrios will be sorely missed. His kind heart, generous spirit and humor coupled with his rice pudding and chicken croquette recipes made the world a better place.

Family and friends may visit on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 after 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at CHAPEL OF THE HIGHLANDS, El Camino Real at 194 Millwood Drive in Millbrae, with a Trisagion Service at 7:00 PM. The Funeral Service will be on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Greek Orthodox Memorial Park Chapel in Colma.

His family appreciates donations in his memory to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in San Francisco.