Obituary of Demetrius Athanas

Demetrius Athanas of Attleboro and Carver, a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps, died on February 4, 2011. He was the son of Cathryn and Kostas Athanas and was predeceased by his brother Judge Philip Athanas and sister Dorothea Brown. He was born on June 28, 1921 in Pawtucket, RI, and graduated from Attleboro High School in 1939 and attended City College of New York. He held the Massachusetts state shotput record for an incredible 27 years with a distance of 53 feet, 3 and 7/8 inches. He was 89 at the time of his death. Demetrius was a 32nd degree Mason in the Ezekiel Bates Lodge, Attleboro, and a member of the Scottish Rite,Valley of Southeastern Massachusetts. He was Deputy Director of Field Support for Polaris Nuclear Submarine guidance systems with Northrop Nortronics. He was on the USS George Washington (SSBN-598) on July 20, 1960, when the "Georgefish" made history by becoming the first submarine to successfully fire a ballistic missile while submerged. He was Manager of Quality Control at the Foxboro Company prior to his retirement in 1983. He was happiest at home with his family watching his favorite team, the Patriots, and enjoyed painting and photography. Demetrius is survived by his beloved wife Bernice of 69 years; his children Dale and wife Joy, Dean and wife Nancy, and Debbie and husband Colin Taylor; his grandchildren Stephen, Nicholas, Abigail and Sarah, his great grandson Caleb, and many loving nieces and nephew. A private service will be held at Center Cemetery in Norton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Life Care of Plymouth