Demetrios A. Cidis, 93 of Kennett Square, Pa. died Monday, October 26, 2015 at his home. He was born in Athens, Greece on October 26, 1922 and subsequently raised in the capital city.
Beginning in 1939, he attended medical school at the University of Athens for almost six years, until the Italian and German occupying forces temporarily closed down the institution. The war and the subsequent occupation of Greece made it all but impossible to conclude his studies. Fortunately, in the summer of 1947 he was given the opportunity to come to the U.S. to continue his education. Throughout the Second World War Dr. Cidis served as a volunteer with the Red Cross. He also served in the National Underground or “Resistance” until the fall of 1944, seeking to liberate Greece from the Occupying forces. Subsequently he was awarded medals by both the Greek Government and the Red Cross in honor of his service to his country.
After Dr. Cidis and his wife relocated in the fall of 2000 from Long Island, New York, to a retirement community in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, he joined Ahepa, a Greek Fraternal organization. In addition Dr. Cidis joined St. Luke’s Greek Orthodox Church in Broomall, Pa. and became an active member and supporter of the West Chester Rotary Club (he had previously been a member of the Rotary Club in Floral Park, New York). Also, he and his wife, Esther, became members of the Hellenic University Club of Wilmington.
Dr. Cidis is survived by his wife, Esther Houghton Cidis, his daughters, Marianne Cidis, an optometrist who practices in Morristown, NJ, and Carolyn Cidis Meltzer, a neuroradiologist and Chair of the Department of Radiology at Emory University’s School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. He is also survived by Esther’s daughters, Vicky and Elise. He is predeceased by a brother and sister.
Relatives and friends are invited to his visitation from 10:00 to 11:00 am Thursday, October 29, at St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church, 35 N. Malin Road, Broomall, PA 19008. The funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. at the church. Interment will be held privately at Pinelawn Memorial Park, Farmingdale, N.Y. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, 900 S. Trooper Rd., Jeffersonville, PA 19403.