Harry Gust Demas

It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my brother Harry on September 19, 2015 after a valiant and courageous fight with cancer.

Harry was born on December 24, 1934, in Sacramento California to Gust John and Toula (Kerhoulas) Demas. He was proud of his Greek heritage and of being the son of an immigrant parent. Harry attended primary, middle, and high school in Sacramento, and received his Bachelors degree from Sacramento State University and his Masters degree from San Francisco State University. Along the way, Harry received scholarships to prestigious art schools in recognition of his talents, and began his career first as an interior designer here in Sacramento, and then as a professor in the University system, teaching right up to his eightieth birthday, December 24th, 2014, when he finally had to say goodbye to his beloved students because of ill health. He was asked to stay on and even was offered assistance at the college if he would, however, that was no longer possible because of his health.

Harry was an artistic genius and created for a world of make-believe, preparing his students to turn magic onto the stage for his audiences. He was his sisters idol, and those who knew him will never forget him. I know we will never meet another talent like his, and how lucky we were to be given the opportunity to receive his magnificent talent. He so unselfishly gave everything he had to his students as they were his life and he loved them. Recently, a few of his students and colleagues came to visit him and say their final goodbyes, and it was evident that they knew they had been blessed to have been given such a rare and special gift in his creations for the stage, whether it was costume and set design or most recently make-up for the theater, turning actors into the characters they were portraying. Once a year he took his class to the grammar schools to teach them about the theater and how characters are created through costume design and make-up. His students loved going with him to help with the children to understand how important stage theater was to their futures, as audiences or thespians.

Harry was the first costume and set designer for the Sacramento Ballet Company, which he held dear to his heart. He also designed costumes and sets for many local and surrounding theater companies as well.

Harry was passionate about the preservation of old historical buildings and was one of the first preservationists for old Sacramento’s redevelopment agency. His membership in many organizations for the preservation of old homes and buildings across the country was evident in his travels and tours that he took throughout the years. Harry belonged to the Theater Historical Society, Los Angeles Conservancy, The American Organ Society, Hollywood Heritage, West Adams Heritage Association, Cinicon, The Thalians, and many other associations.

Harry was a master gardener, prolific photographer, loved the Turner Classic Movie Channel, spending his last days watching the old movies on tv or that he had taped. He loved going through all his photos of events with the movie stars who had become his friends. But I think he enjoyed his garden the most in his final days as he spent a lot of time sitting and looking at the beautiful flowers.

For his family and friends Harry will live on through his paintings, his photographs, and memories that he shared with us in his later days. We are the recipients of an enormous living history.

For me, I will always miss his advice, his decorating skills, his stories, the holidays with me and the life we shared together as brother and sister. I will miss my brother forever.

Harry is survived by his sister JoAnne, brother-in-law Cliff, and his nieces and nephews, and great nieces and great nephews.

A special thank you to his niece Alyssa for all the salami and Greek cheese she supplied him with, and to his nephew Richard for helping to get him back home from Pasadena. And a very, very special thanks to his nephews and caregivers Christopher and John who so lovingly took care of him until his death, and the Kaiser Hospice team; Apollo, La Donna, and Margo for their compassionate care during these many months.

Friends and family are invited to attend the Trisagion Service to be held on Monday, September 28, 2015 at 7pm. Nicoletti, Culjis, and Herberger Funeral Home. 5401 Folsom Blvd. Graveside Service will be held on Tuesday morning 10am at East Lawn Cemetery, 4300 Folsom Blvd.

In his honor, memorial donations may be made to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Building Fund, at 3022 F Street Sacramento, CA. 95816.