Dimitri was born in Korinos, Pierias, Greece on October 2, 1954, to Michael and Georgia Hatzipapafotiou. He came to the U.S. with his family in 1969. His studies took him to Drexel University from 1972 to 1981 where he graduated with a B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering. Dimitri spent his 40-year career as an electrical engineer, specializing in communications, eventually retiring from Lockheed Martin in 2017.
He married the love of his life, Effie Bouikidis Hatzipapafotiou, in 1982 and had two daughters, Georgia and Alexia, in 1985 and 1989, respectively.
Dimitri’s passing was due to complications of brain cancer, which he had been fighting since 2019. He was extremely brave, endlessly optimistic, and unwaveringly hopeful throughout the ordeal. He was preceded in death by Effie, who passed in 2017.
We want to remember Dimitri for the type of person he was. He was a devoted husband to Effie, a loving father and father-in-law to Georgia, Alexia, and Michael, an exceptional son to Michael and Georgia, a loyal brother to Fani, and a wonderful uncle and friend to many people.
His favorite song was “Hotel California” by the Eagles. His favorite movie was “Couching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.” Georgia and Alexia would often call him a “Renaissance Man” with hobbies including amateur ham radio, tsipouro-making, traveling, photography, bouzouki-playing (especially Greek rebetika), volleyball, and sailing.
We will always remember his love of family, fearless spirit, strength of character, and fierce courage.
There is no question that with his passing we feel a great loss and pain in our hearts. But while we will miss him terribly, we are comforted by our certainty that we will see him again. So we wish him “Καλό Παράδεισο και καλή αντάμωση”. And we wish to send this final message now that he has been reunited with Effie: “Dimitri, never forget that love lasts forever!”
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