Gerry Demos Collis

1930 - 2024

GERRY DEMOS COLLIS

June 3, 1930 January 24, 2024

Bakersfield Gerry Coach Collis was born in McGill, Nevada, and lived there for 18 years. McGill was a small town made up mostly of Greek immigrants. Gerry's biggest hero was his mother. He excelled a great deal in football, baseball, and basketball. Gerry spoke of his time in McGill as the greatest time of his life.

In 1948, Gerry attended Denver University on a football scholarship.

In 1952, he was drafted by the N.Y. Yankee organization to play minor league baseball. This was interrupted in 1953 by a draft notice from the U.S. Army.

During Gerry's army service, he was assigned to Special Services, which enabled him to play baseball all around the country.

By 1956, Gerry was able to return to professional baseball, taking up with the Winston Salem Twins. It was in Winston that he met his future wife, Vula.

In 1957, Gerry spent a bit of time with family in Las Vegas, teaching and coaching. It was there that he heard about a coaching job in Bakersfield. Once he was hired, he was then able to fly back to North Carolina to marry Vula. This was July 28, 1957.

In August, Gerry started as football coach and head baseball coach at Bakersfield College. In 1967, he became head football coach, and no longer coached baseball. He remained head coach until 1983. Coach's success has often been measured not in number of victories or championships, but in the great impact he had on young men's lives.

Throughout this time (and longer), Gerry and Vulaand three daughterswere dedicated members of St. George Greek Orthodox Church. Gerry was a fixture on the church board (serving as president more than once), also a regular member of the kitchen crew, which cooked at every event: weddings, Easter, Greek Festival, etc.

From 1984-2012, Gerry continued to work as Director of the Bakersfield College Athletic Foundation. The job was created specifically for him because of his personable nature and his genuine way of dealing with people. Also, though, it was the unbelievably large number of people that knew and respected Gerry that paved the way. His fundraisers became not only well-known and trendy traditions around town, but they raised record-breaking amounts of money.

These years also afforded Gerry some extra time to golf, which he enjoyed immensely.

Gerry's first priority has always been his family. There was nothing he enjoyed more than hanging out with his kids. He was famous around the house for making home-made milkshakes after dinner. Gerry also loved taking the family to Shakey's Pizza after every Renegade game. The same tradition applies to the grandchildren, whether it's picking them up from school or taking them golfing.

His daughter, Elaine, once asked him, Dad, I heard you're getting an award next week. He replied, Listen, none of that stuff means anything. The only thing that matters is your family. Don't ever forget that.

Gerry is survived by his daughter, Elaine Collis, grandsons Steve Cereghino and John Lyles, and son-in-law Ernie Lyles.

Gerry was preceded in death by: his wife Vula Chamis Collis, daughters Penny Lyles and Georgia Collis, mother Panayota Collis, and father, Stavros Demos. In addition: his brothers John Demos, Tom Collis, Angelo Collis, Chris Collis, and sisters Helen Kearns, Georgia Newman, Deanie Pope, and May McFall.

Trisagion service will be Tuesday, February 13, from 6:00-6:30 p.m. St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 401 Truxtun, 93301. Funeral services will be Wednesday, February 14, at 10:00 a.m. (Greek Church). Graveside service following funeral (Wednesday), approximately 12:30 p.m. at Greenlawn, River Blvd. Reception following, family and friends. Rio Bravo Golf Club.

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