Ernie Konstantinos Demanelis, 63, beloved husband of Anne (née McIntyre), loving father of Kathryn Demanelis and Carolyn Demanelis (Zach Stackhouse), and adoring papou of Tiernan John Stackhouse. He was the son of Chrysanthi and the late Konstantinos, brother of Anthony Demanelis, brother-in-law to John McIntyre, Sharon McIntyre (Bill Mullen). Ernie was born Sept. 20, 1956, in Morgantown, joining the close-knit Greek Orthodox community. The Demanelis family emigrated from the village of Sopiki in southern Albania and became successful restaurateurs in Morgantown. Ernie earned his bachelor’s and law degrees from West Virginia University and was a devoted alumni and Mountaineer fan.
He was proud of his Greek heritage, frequently reading passages from the Aeneid and volunteering with the annual Greek Festival at St. Demetrios. He moved to Cleveland in 1982 and practiced law for 30 years with Squire, Sanders & Dempsey. He often joked that “lawyers want to be restaurant owners and the restaurant owners would rather be lawyers.” After retiring from his law practice, he enjoyed spending time with his family and adored Labrador, Huxley; in that time, he volunteered his skills and countless hours to numerous organizations in the Cleveland area. He taught bridge to middle schoolers at Riverside Junior High in Cleveland; helped seniors with computers at the Rocky River Senior Center; and worked with the AARP tax aide program, Meals on Wheels Lakewood/Rocky River, and the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland.
He was a lovely, generous, and incredible man, and his sudden death leaves his family and his community overcomes with grief and full of sorrow.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland (https://www.hungernetwork.org/) in support of Ernie’s belief that no one should go hungry. Services were held in Cleveland, on Friday, Dec. 27.
