In Memoriam
Theron Vincent Demetre #218
Obituary: Theron Vincent Demetre #218 (1938) Brothers: UAA was re-notified that Brother Demetre has entered the Adytum. He died in 2004, so you may have received this news previously. His former wife, Edith Demetre, can be contacted at 22792 Arbella Rd., Laguna Niguel, CA 92677-2728. Demetre, a Navy veteran during World War II and state boxing champion in Arizona, died on Dec. 19, 2004, at age 92. He lived in Laguna Niguel at the time and was buried at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego. He was born in San Francisco and grew up in Phoenix. He opened the first park and public pool there. He became known for his many achievements in swimming and water polo, played football in junior college, and became the Arizona state Light Heavyweight Boxing Champion from 1932-35. He continued his sports career at UCLA and was on the Pacific Coast Conference champion water polo team in 1935. He also was on the Bruins PCC champion boxing team that same year. He enlisted in the Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Because of his coaching degree from UCLA, Demetre was assigned a major role in opening the Farragut Naval Station in Idaho. He later became a communications officer and participated in the invasion of Okinawa in World War II. He returned to teaching after his discharge and taught in the San Fernando Valley at Cantara and Fulbright Avenue schools for 35 years. He never lost his enthusiasm for teaching children. That smile, that optimism and kindness will be with his friends forever. |