Michael Demeter
December 11, 1939 - March 18, 2024
Michael Demeter passed away on March 18, 2024. He was born on December 11, 1939, to John Demeter and Kathleen (Hallissey) Demeter, in Palo Alto, Calif. He attended grammar school at St. Joseph's Menlo Park, high school at Bellarmine College Preparatory, and college at the University of San Francisco.
After graduating college, Michael enlisted in the United States Navy in 1962, and graduated from Officers Candidate School, Newport, R.I. He served for five years as an Engineer on the USS Somers, was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for his service in Vietnam, and was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1967, as a Lieutenant.
Upon his discharge from the Navy, he returned to Menlo Park to work with his father in the family's taxicab (Yellow Cab of Palo Alto) and charter bus (Peninsula Charter Lines) businesses, where he worked for the next 38 years. In 1974, he met his future wife, Barbara. Married in 1975, they settled in Atherton, Calif., where they raised their family of two children.
After selling Peninsula Charter Lines in 2005, he continued to work every day, actively managing his real estate rental properties. An avid gardener, he spent all his free time working in his yard, growing his own fruits and vegetables from seed in his greenhouse every winter. Summers were spent swimming and barbequing over oak-wood fires in his backyard. He was also blessed to spend time with his eight grandchildren doing the things that he loved.
Michael was proud to be a lifelong resident of the Menlo Park area and was an active member of the Menlo Park Historical Association. He boasted that, except for his time in the Navy, he always lived within a mile of his childhood home on Pine St. A devoted parishioner of The Church of the Nativity in Menlo Park, he served as an usher at 8:00 a.m. Mass for the better part of the past 60 years. He felt strongly about supporting the causes that he loved both financially and with his time and talents, and invested countless hours in causes that were important to him, including Sacred Heart Schools, Bellarmine, and U.S.F.
Michael was preceded in death by brother, Ronald, in 1937; and his beloved wife, Barbara, in 2014. He is survived by his wife, Josephine (Sinclair) Demeter of nine wonderful years; his son, John (Megan); grandchildren, Kathleen, Jack, Mary, Claire, and Noreen; his daughter, Angela Schaufler (Gernot); grandchildren, Michael, Thomas, and Matthew; and his stepdaughter, Natalie Mitchell; as well as his extensive Irish and Hungarian cousins, aunts, uncles, and relatives in San Francisco, the Bay Greater Area, Mich., and Ireland.
A rosary (10:00 a.m.) and Funeral Mass (11:00 a.m.), will be held at the Church of the Nativity in Menlo Park on April 5, 2024. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Church of the Nativity, in memory of Michael Demeter, 210 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park, Calif. 94025, or https://www.nativitymenlo.org/holy-hour-/donations

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle on Mar. 22, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Michael Demeter

3 Entries

Mike Waters

May 21, 2024

Mike was the definition of Old School Bus Guy. Back in the 80´s and into the early 2000´s when I sold my bus company, both Peninsula Charter and my company, Pacific Coast Bus worked very close helping each other cover those charters we just didn´t have enough buses for. Mike told me, after he had been President of the California Bus Association in I believe the late 80´s or 90´s, that running it took almost as much time as running his bus company. Those were wise words I wish I had followed. A great guy and my condolences to the kids and family

Have a great picture of Mike driving me around in his Faegol.

Mike Waters
Coach USA
Las Vegas, NV
415-559-2705

Willie&Betty Walsh .Ballydesmond&Temple Hill,Cork

April 11, 2024

Great memories of Michael´s great welcome and hospitality when visiting with our cousin Fr John Ring during August 1994,2002.
A generous and engaging man who enjoyed reminiscing of his trips to Kiskeam and Ballydesmond.
A life full lived- he will be greatly missed.
Our condolences to all the Demeter,Murphy and Corby families.

Daniel C O'Connell

April 7, 2024

I have many fond memories of playing with Michael when his Mother Kathy was visiting the Hallisey home place in Knocknenaugh during the Summers with his Father. All of the family were so nice and Kathy´s Dad Ned and sister Nell really appreciated their visits during one of which the new house was built by a local builder Jackie Dan Bat which was a cause of great celebration locally. May Michael rest in peace in the company of his parents. My condolences to his wife and family. Donal O´Connell

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