Rev. Anthony G. Demetri 1959-2025

Father Anthony was born July 20, 1959, in Youngstown, to Mary Pappas Demetri of Donora, Pa., and Gregory Demetri of Lisbon.

He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Youngstown and later received a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing from Youngstown State University.

After receiving his bachelor’s degree, Father Anthony worked at the Mahoning County courthouse in Youngstown for several years as a records clerk until he received his calling to become a priest in the Greek Orthodox church.

He started his journey to the priesthood by attending Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary in Brookline, Massachusetts, where he received his Master of Divinity. He was then assigned to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Tarpon Springs, Florida, as youth director. It was there where he met and married his loving wife, Eleni Peppas, of Port Richie, Florida. After spending two years in Tarpon Springs, Father Anthony was ordained to the priesthood at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Camp Hill, Pa., where he subsequently served as assistant priest.

His first assignment as lead priest was at Annunciation Church in Cleveland, where he and Presvytera Eleni served faithfully for many years. He returned to Holy Trinity Cathedral in Camp Hill for his final assignment as lead priest and later as dean of the cathedral.

Father Anthony will always be remembered for his love and compassion for others, his love of the Greek language, his love of music and, of course, his great love for God and the church. From the time he was a young boy, he enjoyed visiting with the elderly, speaking Greek with his grandmother and her friends, and “pretending” he was a priest while performing the liturgy in Greek.

He was very active at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Youngstown, where he served as an altar boy, participated in the youth group and performed in Greek holiday plays, and later, as a young adult, served as a chanter, youth director, Greek school teacher, parish council member and organist for the church choir. He also was, essentially, a self-taught violinist and enjoyed performing at church events.

Father Anthony was preceded in death by his wife, Eleni Peppas Demetri; mother, Mary Pappas Demetri; father, Gregory Demetri; aunt, Christine Demetri Dickos; uncle, Dinos Dickos; and nephew, Gregory Ortiz.

He is survived by his siblings, George (Kathy) Demetri, Connie (Bill) Athanasopolis and Tom (Kelly) Demetri; his uncle, Nicholas (Dorothea) Pappas; his nieces, Athena and Sophia Demetri; and his cousins, George (Stacy) Dickos and Francene (Jim) Tucker.

A Divine Liturgy will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 220 N. Walnut St., Youngstown, OH 44503.

Family and friends may visit and pay tribute to Father Anthony from 11 a.m. to noon, followed by the funeral service at noon Monday, at the church.

Burial will be in Belmont Park Cemetery in Liberty.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 220 North Walnut St., Youngstown, OH 44503.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Rossi & Santucci Funeral Home, 4221 Market St., Boardman. Family and friends may visit www.rossisantuccifh.com to view this obituary and send condolences to Father Anthony’s family.

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