Dionysios Panagis Kostas

Danis (Dionysios Panagis) Kostas (98) of Redondo Beach, California passed away peacefully on February 17, 2023.

 Dionysios was born on September 23, 1924 to Panagis and Katerina Kostas in the most beautiful place on earth – Kefalonia, Greece. He was born in the village of Karavados, where he was the last of 6 children to be born in his family. Dionysios lived through the hardships of WWII when the island was occupied by German and Italian forces in 1943, and endured the consequences of civil war in the country. In 1953, an earthquake struck Kefalonia and destroyed most of the island, including his home and village. In November of 1955, Dionysios married the love of his life, Eleni Sourvanos – they lived in marital bliss for nearly 70 years. Soon after getting married, he left for the United States and arrived in New York on December 4, 1955 where he met up with his brother Spiros.  After spending a short time in New York, they headed out to Hermosa Beach, California to meet up with others from their beloved Kefalonia and worked in the flower fields that once existed around the Santa Monica airport area. He fell in love with California as he said it reminded him very much of Kefalonia.

 Dionysios was a hard working, humble man that loved his family and faith. He will be missed by all who knew him.  He loved God and walked in a quiet, determined faith. He had little formal education due to the circumstance of his childhood but had a wisdom that comes from determination, persistence, hard work and faith.  He never gave up on anything. He loved to work and had an incredible energy level into his 90s. He loved his ’57 Chevy Truck, which was painted dark blue to represent Greece, and spent countless hours working on it.  

He was a man of the earth and needed to have his hands in the dirt.  He loved his garden with its fig, orange, lemon, avocado and olive trees as well tomatoes, horta (field greens), cucumbers (everything to make a greek salad).  He was an organic farmer and everything he planted in his garden blossomed. 

 He had the heart of a servant and served his St. Katherine Greek Orthodox community as a member of the parish council, Senior Citizens and AHEPA. He worked in the kitchen during countless dinners, festivals, and fundraisers for St. Gerasimos Cathedral in Kefalonia and any event he was asked to help with. He loved the St. Katherine community and never turned down an opportunity to help.

 He is survived by his loving wife Eleni and his devoted children Steve, Jerry (Roula), Jim, Tony, Kathy (Spyros) and his beloved grandchildren: Maria, Eleni, Alexandra, Michael, Kosta and Dennis. 

 Our hearts are broken and we will always remember our beloved husband, father and papou with fond memories and love.  Anyone who met him loved him as his smile lit up every room he entered. His legacy will live on through his children and grandchildren. He will live within our hearts forever; may his memory be eternal. 

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to St. Katherine Philoptochos