Demetrios "Jimmy" Beltsos, age 80, entered into Eternal Life on October 26, 2021. The youngest of five siblings born on July 17, 1941 in Vizikion, Arcadia, Greece, Demetrios emigrated to the United States in 1958. An embodiment of the American dream, Demetrios graduated from the Milwaukee School of Engineering in 1967 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. After graduation, he went on to become an engineering professor. But his love of family meant he also frequently helped out in his uncle's business: the London Cleaners on Milwaukee Street. After Demetrios' brother-in-law passed away unexpectedly in 1982, he opted to begin work at the London full-time alongside his sister, Katherine. To the customers of The London, Demetrios was known as the man who never took a sick day. He was ever-present behind the business's front counter, and always greeted patrons with his trademark grin before seeking to discuss politics and current events in his heavy Greek accent. Demetrios always held strong but well-researched opinions, and those who entered the family business each day would hear news programs emanating from his radio. During his decades of work in the London, Demetrios proved himself to be a master craftsman and problem-solver. He re-engineered luggage and handbags, fixed zippers, shortened leather belts, seamlessly resoled the most tricky sets of heels, and even managed to fully restore a pair of leather shoes drenched in olive oil and lemon juice. To family members, Demetrios embodied both elderly wisdom and a fiery, youthful spirit. A lifelong learner and lover of history, one of Demetrios' favorite pastimes was tracking down the whereabouts of relatives both in the United States and in Greece. He was always present at family gatherings. On his weekly trips to the grocery store, he would buy extra produce to hand out to his many nieces and nephews when they stopped by the London in the days that followed. The cleaners became a central hub and meeting point for all of Demetrios' family members, who would take turns popping in to see one another and have a quick chat with "Theo Jimmy." Demetrios was also blessed with many great-nephews and great-nieces, whom he loved as if they were his own children. To them, Demetrios was a constant source of life advice and dry humor. He constantly pushed his family's youngest generation to invest the same time and hard work into education that he did. While life circumstances led Demetrios away from engineering and into the dry-cleaning business, he never lost the math skills he learned during years of schooling and was always able and willing to help his great-nieces and great-nephews with their math homework. His family will miss him immeasurably, and the London Cleaners will never be the same. Demetrios was preceded in death by his parents, John and Evangelia Beltsos, his siblings: Nicholas (Katherine) Beltsos, Nika Beltsos, Vasiliki Fertis, and Katherine (Frank) Dionesopulos, and by his nephew George Dionesopulos. He is survived by his loving nieces and nephews Nickey (Vasily) Pappas, JoAnne (Nicholas) Anton, Diane (Richard) Terry, Demetra Dionesopulos, John (Evi) Beltsos, Angeline (Gregory) Poulos, and Vasilia (Paraskevas) Tsilimingras, as well as by his 19 great-nieces and great-nephews. Visitation will be held on Monday, November 1, at STS. CONSTANTINE AND HELEN GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH, 2160 Wauwatosa Avenue, from 12:00 PM until the time of service at 1:00 PM. Burial to follow at Pinelawn Memorial Park. Demetrios' family strongly encourages those attending to wear masks, as the country is still in the midst of the COVID pandemic. Church & Chapel Funeral Service Serving the Family
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