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On October 9, 2025, about one hundred friends, neighbors, and family members gathered on Palmetto Island in Pinecrest for a tribute nearly a century in the making. With heartfelt applause and a few tears, they unveiled a new street sign: Angelo P. Demos Avenue, honoring the World War II veteran, decorated colonel, and esteemed South Florida attorney who passed away last November at the age of 100.
The street isn’t just a stretch of pavement. It’s 70th Avenue, the tree-lined road where Angelo “Ange” Demos and his wife, Chrissie, built their life together. Their home, one of the very first on the block, was where they raised their daughters, where grandchildren gather, and home filled with laughter and outstanding memories for 62 years.
“It’s an honor to live in this wonderful part of Pinecrest and such an honor to live on a street named for one of the kindest, most thoughtful people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing,” said neighbor Holly Miller.
Chrissie Demos added: “What a tribute to my husband. He was a force and such a wonderful soul, and we are so thankful that the Village of Pinecrest named the road after him. His legacy will live on for generations to come.”
A Soldier’s Courage
Born in 1924, Angelo Demos came of age in the crucible of World War II. At just 20 years old, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was thrust into the European theater, where he fought in the legendary Battle of the Bulge as part of the 35th Infantry Division of General George S. Patton’s Third Army.
From October 1944 to May 1945, he saw continuous combat across Central Europe, the Ardennes, and the Rhineland. His courage earned him the Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit, and the French Legion of Honor. Later, as a reservist, he rose to the rank of full colonel, serving in military intelligence at the Pentagon and eventually commanding the 3387th Miami USAR School at the University of Miami. His photograph still hangs in the 35th Infantry Division Museum in Topeka, Kansas.
A Lawyer and a Leader
After returning from war, Demos traded fatigues for legal briefs. He earned his law degree from the University of Miami, where he led student organizations and honed his sharp courtroom presence. For more than seven decades, he was one of South Florida’s most respected attorneys, practicing law until the remarkable age of 99.
“He was a brilliant lawyer, but more than that, he treated everyone with respect and kindness,” said his daughter, Stephanie. “My dad didn’t just practice law, he practiced humanity.”
A Man of Faith and Family
Beyond the battlefield and courtroom, Demos gave his heart to his community. A lifelong member of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, he served on the parish council for two decades, including six years as president. His dedication to the church earned him the rare honor of being invested as an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople the highest lay honor in the Greek Orthodox faith.
But above all, Angelo Demos was a family man. He and Chrissie met on a blind date that led to 61 years of marriage and a lifetime of shared accomplishment. Together, they raised two daughters, Stephanie Demos, a prominent attorney and theater co-founder, and Cynthia Demos, an Emmy Award-winning journalist and media executive.
His four grandchildren and extended family recall him not only as a soldier and lawyer, but as a man who never failed to make others feel valued. Friends say he had a knack for turning casual encounters into lifelong connections.
A Legacy Etched in Pinecrest
Now, with the unveiling of Angelo P. Demos Avenue, his legacy has a permanent home in the community he helped shape. As a pioneer in developing Palmetto Island, Demos was instrumental in establishing the very neighborhood where he spent his life.
“It feels like the street has always been his,” his daughter, Cynthia reflected. “Now it truly is.”
For Pinecrest, the renaming is more than a civic honor. It’s a recognition of sacrifice, service, and love of community, qualities that defined Colonel Angelo P. Demos.
As the sun shone on the October ceremony, the sign glistened, standing tall in front of the Demos family home. For those who knew him, and for generations who will drive down that street, it will serve as a reminder that true greatness is found not only in victories abroad, but in the kindness and integrity carried home.
