Dimitrios Moustakis

Dimitrios V. Moustakis, 96, of Astoria, NY, passed away peacefully July 10, 2024 surrounded by his family.
Dimitrios was born on March 15, 1928 in the rural mountain village of Loganikos, Sparta, Greece to his parents Vasilios and Eleni Moustakis. He spent his early life farming under the shadow of Mount Taygetus and married his wife of 70 years, Areti Demakis, on January 11, 1954. Areti and Dimitrios had three children in Greece: Vasilios, Niki, and Theodore (Ted).
Dimitrios left Greece in 1965 to move to Germany. After two years, his wife presented him with a new opportunity and, together, they courageously relocated their young family to America. Dimitrios and Areti worked side by side to settle in Astoria, NY and to grow successful pizzeria businesses located in Woodside and in The Bronx. Their hard work allowed them to retire in their mid-50s.
Over the next 40 years, Dimitrios pursued his passions and became known as a lover of the written word, a deep philosopher, and a devout family man. Despite obtaining only a primary school education, he was a voracious reader, wrote poems, and published five books of his own. Dimitrios was a member of the Hellenic Writers of the Diaspora and the Pan-Hellenic Union of Philologist Writers. His writings are included in an anthology of works by Greek authors funded by the Onassis Foundation. Dimitrios also wrote for various newspapers, including a weekly column in Ethnikos Kirikas (Greek National Herald). He was a frequent guest on GR RADIO New York and various other local radio shows both in the US and in Greece.
Above all, Dimitrios -affectionately known as 'Pops'- was a deeply loved and respected patriarch of the Moustakis family. His children and grandchildren would accompany him and his wife to Greece nearly every summer for months at a time. He loved to watch his family grow and attended all his grandchildren's life events. Their best memories together are often marked by his storytelling; Dimitrios would tell tales from around the world and shared beautiful anecdotes from his childhood, his time in the war, his service with the miliary police, and his journey to America.
Dimitrios is survived by his wife, sister, and three children. His wife is Areti (Demakis) 93. His sister is Diamando Tsalamatas (99). His children include his son Vasilios (wife Dimitra Moustaki), daughter Niki (husband Dimitris Kakkos), and son Ted Moustakis (wife Jeaneen Kump). He is predeceased by his sister Panagiota Koumoundoros and brother Yianni Moustakis.
Dimitrios is survived by his ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. His grandchildren include Kostas Kakkos, Areti Saurine, Panagiota Kakkos, Demitrios Moustakis, Athina Vella, Krystina Moustakis, Niko Moustakis, Vasilios Moustakis, Christos Moustakis, and Areti Moustakis. His great-grandchildren include Thomas, Vincent, Marion, & Zoe Vella, Amelia & Theodore Moustakis, and Jeaneen & Chrisanthi Saurine.
We are born once and there can be no second birth. For all eternity we shall no longer be. But you, who are not master of tomorrow, postpone your happiness. Life is wasted in procrastination and each one of us dies without allowing himself leisure.
-Epicurus
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