John Constantine Yemelos

John Constantine Yemelos was born to Constantine “Gus” Gemelos and Irene Gemelos on December 1, 1942, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He grew up in New Orleans with his sister, Pagona “Peggy”. His relationship with his sister was one of deep loyalty and unspoken understanding — a true example of what siblinghood should be.

John graduated from Holy Cross High School, and was an alumnus of Louisiana State University, class of 1964. After college he moved to Atlanta where he earned his law degree at John Marshall Law School in 1967. He served in the United States Coast Guard before moving to London, the beginning of his many adventures.

People were quick to realize the Greek culture was held closely in the hearts of John and his family. As a child, he attended Greek school and practiced his faith in the Greek Orthodox Church of New Orleans. He would later direct the construction of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Lakeview—characterized by its soaring bell tower and signature blue dome.

He would spend summers in Greece eventually meeting the love of his life, Despina “Dici” Cosmas, on the island of Chios, Greece. They married months later on November 15, 1967 for 52 long and exciting years. John was definitely the steadfast head of the family, but Dici was the resolute neck that turned the head. Together they achieved an extraordinary level of success.

Throughout John’s life, he resided in New Orleans, Folsom, Covington, and Manalapan, Florida. As an emerging developer, he was responsible for the development of more than 1,500 multifamily housing units in Metairie and New Orleans, contributing significantly to the residential infrastructure of that area.

John’s major commercial developments included the Biloxi Hilton Hotel in Biloxi, Mississippi; the landmark Lakeway One, Lakeway Two, and Lakeway Three Office Towers in Metairie, Louisiana; and the One Clearlake Centre Office Tower in West Palm Beach, Florida. These four office towers alone comprise more than 1.3 million square feet of office space, serving as cornerstones of their respective business communities.

In addition to these high-profile projects, he developed numerous residential subdivisions, as well as office, hotel, storage, and retail centers throughout St. Tammany Parish, helping to feed the region's growth and economic development.

Anyone who knew John knew he was the man with a thousand stories. His legacy will endure not merely through his extraordinary achievements as a developer, but primarily through his family who will carry his memory, stories, and values for countless generations.

He is survived by his children: Irene “Renee” Yemelos Lalla and Cassandra Yemelos Rung; his grandchildren: Olivia Rogers Burk, Isabella Lalla Averette, and Christopher John Rogers; his great-grandchildren: Stella Marie Rogers, John-David Christopher Rogers, and Cassandra Ryan Burk; and his sister, Peggy Gemelos Nicoladis, who will carry forward his memory and values. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dici (2019), his mother, Irene (1977), and father, Gus (1971).

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral service in the chapel of Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. in New Orleans, on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at 1:00PM. A visitation will be held at the funeral home beginning at 11:30AM. The interment will follow the chapel service at Lake Lawn Park.

To view and sign the online guest book, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com.