Demetrios G Retikas

Demetrios G. Retikas, M.D. (Pappou), 95, died Feb. 14, 2018.
Born on January 3, 1923, in Piraeus, Greece, son of George and Aphroditi Retikas. Dr. Retikas graduated from the University of Athens, Greece Medical School in 1951; this after several interruptions because of the German occupation during World War II and the Greek Civil War that followed.
On the infamous night of April 6, 1941, when the German planes bombed and destroyed Piraeus harbor, he herded his younger brother and sister into a bomb shelter to await the end. In the morning, they emerged only to find their family home in rubble and their aging grandmother hiding under the kitchen table. When he went into the army, he was a green beret commando for 28 months. He then resumed his studies in medicine, and after graduation he was called back for 14 months as battalion physician. These and other stories kept his grandchildren spellbound during his retirement.
He came to the United States in 1953 to complete his medical training as an intern at St. Thomas Hospital of Akron. He met and married his wife of 64 years, Phaidra Zervos, and they had two children, Diti and Tony.
He completed his residency in Obstetrics & Gynecology at Timken Mercy Hospital in Canton in 1959. He then practiced in the Akron, Barberton and Wadsworth areas until 1988 when he retired. For six years, he was chairman of the Ob-Gyn Department at Barberton Citizens and served on many committees there and at St. Thomas Hospital. He was a fellow of the International College of Surgeons and was a member of the American Society of Abdominal Surgeons. He was a member of the American Medical Association, the Summit County Medical Society, the Akron Society of Ob-Gyn, the American Society of Laparoscopists and Endoscopists and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. After retirement, he worked in the Ob-Gyn clinic at St. Thomas Hospital for 7 years. He also was a volunteer patient advocate at Barberton Citizens Hospital. He was recently recognized by the Ohio State Senate, the Ohio State Medical Society and the Summit County Medical Society for his 50 years of "outstanding service to the medical profession." A member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church where he served on the Board of Trustees, he also belonged to the Order of Ahepa, the church Men's Club, and the Fairlawn Country Club.
The remainder of his time was spent golfing, playing bridge and enjoying his grandchildren. He attended so many of their athletic events that the other members of the teams came to affectionately call him "Pappou," the Greek equivalent of grandpa.
Noted for his serene smile and his passion for dressing well, he became an excellent golfera€"having started what he called "that silly game" at the age of 38. He became famous for his consistently straight drives and accurate putts. His living room was his private practice green. During his career, he made 5 holes-in-one and won innumerable trophies. He was noted for his patience and good humor on the course, and these were qualities that made him so well-liked in all the other aspects of his profession and life. After retirement, he played golf at least 4 times a week in summer, and in the winter the foursomes played bridge on the same schedule.
He was an excellent physician and a wonderfully well-rounded human being.
Preceded in death by his wife, Phaidra; son, Anthony Retikas, M.D.; and his sister, Sophia Toumbalakis; he is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Diti and Mark Ciraldo; grandchildren, Anthony, Lenora and Christina Mollica (nee Ciraldo); brother, Akindinos and wife, Dina; and special nephew, Demetrios Toumbalakis.
Services will be held 11 a.m. TUESDAY at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church with Rev. Fr. Jerry Hall and Fr. Andrew Lentz officiating. Interment at Rose Hill Burial Park. Friends may call 5:30-8 p.m. MONDAY at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd., where the Trisagion service will take place at 7:30 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Anthony Retikas, M.D. Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 129 S Union St., Akron, Oh 44304.
(Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)