Gregory Diamanti
Gregory Gust Diamanti
August 1928 – March 2024
Trisagion: Thursday, March 7, 2024, 7 pm
Funeral: Friday, March 8, 2024, 10 am
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension
4700 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland, CA 94602
Burial: Mountain View Cemetery, 5000 Piedmont Ave., Oakland, 94611
In Lieu of Flowers
One of Greg’s last requests was that donations be sent to the Ascension Capital Campaign by check to 4700 Lincoln Ave., Oakland, CA, 94602 or online at www.ascensioncathedral.com.
Gregory Diamanti was born at home in Helper, Utah to Angelina and Gust Diamanti. He was their third child after Stella and Jane. At two he was saved by a fellow Greek who had heard about Greg’s life-threatening eczema. A can of tar did the trick. Shortly thereafter the family moved to Grand Junction, Colorado. It was here that he first played with toys—his cousins’ toys. His brother James came along when Greg was five. The family returned to Helper just as Greg was entering fifth grade.
His formative years were filled with household duties, school, family and during summers helping his father with the 500-800 head of sheep. He and his brother were often required to take on responsibilities far exceeding their ages but were better for it. Their summers were spent on the homesteaded property in western Colorado. The ranch was so remote they didn’t find out WWII had ended until Greg and Jim walked 4.5 miles to collect the weekly mail.
Greg’s love of dance began when his Mormon neighbors took him to social and folk dances. This brought him great joy and confidence. Throughout his school years, he often performed in assemblies which included his favorite dance, the Bohemian Schottische.
Greg’s maternal grandfather lived with the family. Greg remembers trying to sleep next to the cold and leaky window while listening to his snoring Papou. But Greg was thankful for the care Papou gave the family while his mother suffered from heart disease. The family lost Angelina at the age of 47 when Greg was 17.
During his second year of college, Greg was drafted into the US Army serving two years in post-war Germany. He was often heard telling stories about what he learned and experienced through meeting fellow soldiers from all over the US. On his leaves he was able to visit his relatives in Greece. He met his maternal grandmother, aunts and cousins for the first time. His favorite memory was being able to brush his Yiayia’s long gray hair. His least favorite memory was having to spit on many babies because of his unibrow implying his ability to give the evil eye.
Upon returning to Utah, Greg used his GI Bill to become a journeyman meat cutter. Between jobs, he became a bartender at a restaurant in Ely, Nevada. The owner’s wife introduced Greg to all the single Greek American girls in the county, except Demetra Kanellos. She wanted Demetra for her own son.
As fate would have it, he met Demetra anyway at her father’s name day party March 25, 1953, in McGill, Nevada. It almost ended tragically that night when after the party an admirer of Demetra’s, who was Greg’s car passenger, stuck a pistol in his side and said, “Demetra is meant for me.” Greg remained calm and managed to talk his passenger down. A few days later, Demetra’s aunt, Helen Soumbeniotis, arranged an April Fool’s joke that ended up with Greg and Demetra going out on their first date. In early 1954 he returned to Utah but drove the 600 mile round trip to McGill as often as possible. They married in McGill, November 1955, and moved to Helper, Utah. Their daughter Dena was born in 1958.
In August of 1960, Greg, Demetra, and Dena moved to Albany, California. They eventually bought a house in Oakland where Demetra and Greg lived out their lives. They were brought out by simbitheri Demetrios and Aglaia Pappas to work at their Star Grocery in Berkeley. Their daughter Elaine had recently married Demetra’s brother Bill. Greg renamed the Star Grocery’s butcher shop Greg’s Star Meats and ran his business for 26 years before hanging up his apron to work at another shop. During that time, he was known for handing out free slices of salami to children as well as giving 8×8-inch calendar sheets to parents bearing their newborn’s birthdate.
The Diamantis established themselves both in the local school and church communities. Greg was active in Sequoia School’s Dads’ Club as well as serving on the parish council and numerous other volunteer activities for the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension. In 1965 their second daughter, Maria, was born. Both daughters completed their college educations with full support of their parents. Dena married Dean Valavanis in 1984 and Maria married Nick Zigenis in 1990, followed by grandchildren Fotis, Vasili, and Demetra. Countless family events were shared throughout the years.
Greg retired and became Demetra’s dialysis caregiver. A few years later she died abruptly at 71. After a mourning period, he reentered the church community by volunteering in the church office. It was there that he met his sweetheart, Sophia Johnston. Sophia and Greg along with three other church members established the “Fabulous Five.” They attended many events together, Club 55+, Diocese Senior Camp plus traveling throughout Northern CA and NV. Greg lost Sophia and his brother Jim within three weeks of each other during October 2023.
Greg’s last 18 months were made so much better through the loving care offered by Garry Sacramento. Our family is eternally grateful to Garry and his wife Chona for all they provided.
Gregory Diamanti is survived by his daughters Dena (Dean Valavanis) and Maria (Nick Zigenis) and grandchildren Fotis Valavanis, Vasili Zigenis, and Demetra Zigenis. He is also survived by godchildren Rebecca Rose, Michael Kanellos and Chris Pappas as well as nieces and nephews Angela Laros, Kathy Wilson, Joe Juliano, Angelo Kanellos, Michael Kanellos, and Deno Diamanti. For further information call, Harry Greer, Funeral Director (FDR-745)