Vasiliki "Vicky" Demos Obituary
Vicky's grandparents were Konstantinos Cavacos (Trifilis) from Potamos, and Pothiti (Lula) Chlentzos from Christoforianika
Vasiliki, "Vicky" Demos, age 78 years, passed away on Monday, October 6, 2025. She was born in Charleston, SC, the oldest child of James and Catherine (Cavacos) Demos who, shortly after her birth, moved to Baltimore.
Vicky graduated from Eastern High School in Baltimore and went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from Towson State College. Following Towson, she began post graduate studies at the University of Toledo where she earned her masters and the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indianna where she was awarded her Doctorate.
Having achieved her PHD, Vicky was hired by the University of Minnesota to teach Sociology at their satellite campus in Morris, Minnesota, on the edge of the prairie. She would spend the next 26 years at Morris becoming a tenured professor. It was at Morris where Vicky met and eventually married Fred Peterson, a fellow professor and artist at the University. In between semesters teaching Vicky and Fred shared adventures traveling the country and the world making friends and absorbing the culture wherever they went and raising Fred's youngest son, Caleb. She particularly enjoyed summers in Greece visiting extended family and conducting research on various topics including the Greek Orthodox Church and the history of the island of Kythera from which her mother's family had emigrated to the US.
Vicky's academic career encompassed a range of topics and as a researcher she had no peers. Her published works included papers and books on feminism, gerontology, ethnic woman in various cultures, the Greek Orthodox Church and the conflicting political movements of the Greek Civil War. She served as president or VP of several national organizations and traveled extensively to speak at national and international conferences.
Upon their retirement from teaching Vicky and Fred relocated to Salisbury, MD where they were active in the local branch of the NAACP, The Conflict Resolution Center at Salisbury University, The Unitarian Fellowship and the local art scene. Vicky was also selected to serve as alternate delegate to the United Nations on Women's Issues. She served in that position for 4 years from 2017 to 2021. In addition to these activities Vicky remained active in national and international Sociology organizations, traveling, speaking and presenting papers. With her colleague, Marcia Segal, Vicky published and edited the many volumes of the book "Ethnic Woman" which she was still working on at the time of her death.
Vicky was preceded in death by her parents James and Catherine Demos. Vicky is survived by her husband of 42 years, Fred Peterson of Salisbury, MD, her brothers, John Demos and his wife Barbara of Havre 'de Grace, MD, Gus Demos and his wife Mary Ellen of Bel Air, MD, Emmanuel Demos and his wife Vasiliki of Kingsville, MD and Paul Demos and his wife Dorothy of Laurel, MD. She is also survived by stepchildren Karl Peterson, Kristen Peterson and Caleb Peterson as well as many loving nieces and nephews.
https://www.hollowayfh.com/obituaries/Vasilike-P-Demos?obId=46192083
