- Date Of Death: January 11, 2011
- State: Connecticut
Demetrius Peter “Jim” Traggis, 84, of Hamden,entered eternity on Jan. 11, 2011. He was born in New Haven Jan. 22, 1926, son of the late Peter and Athena Petrelis Traggis. He was a lifelong resident of the New Haven and Hamden (Mount Carmel) area. He was a graduate of the New Haven school system and proudly served in the Navy during World War II aboard the battleship “Missouri” where he was present at the formal surrender of the Japanese forces to the Allied Powers. He, along with his family, owned Demetrius Candy Store on Chapel Street in New Haven and dazzled many with wonderful confectionary creations. For many years, before becoming a restaurateur, Jim was an active, inventive businessman in the boating industry and owner of the Wepawaug Marina in Milford. Jim, in the early years, called himself The Fiberglass Kid, working with fiberglass products he gave new life to hundreds of wood and steel boats. He also enjoyed racing them. Jim later owned Conti’s Restaurant in Milford and most notably the Sanford Barn in Hamden. Jim was a man of strong convictions buffered by his generosity. Working in conjunction with Connecticut Campaign for Cooley’s Anemia he was instrumental in raising funds for families affected by Cooley’s.
Jim is survived by first cousins and their families: Ellen Andriotis of Old Saybrook, Mary Reed of New Haven, Irene Sterns of Waterford, Andy Traggis of Lyme, Kaye Booth of Bozrah , Penelope Milon of Wilmington, N.C., Catherine Cokins and Irene Theocharidis both Houston, Texas, Demetrios (Medie) Traggis of Texas, Mary Morris, John Simos, Gus Simos and Nicholas Simos of Florida.
