SCARBOROUGH – Michael Demos passed from this life to the next, while comforted by friends and family at his side, after a brief illness on April 9.

He was born in Lewiston on Dec. 2, 1918, to Greek immigrant parents, Emanuel Michael Demetrikakos and Efstathia Slathaki. His mother sadly died in the process of giving life to Michael. The family name was legally changed and recorded to Demos in 1953. In 1937, he graduated from Cony High School in Augusta. He had a great talent for track and held the Maine State record for the mile for a number of years after his graduation.

He developed his track skills working his Kennebec Journal paper route by running up the long steep incline locally known as Sand Hill. Together with his father and his brother, George, they opened a lunch stand called Mike’s Lunch on Bangor Street in Augusta. His father, not a believer in dreams, allowed Mike to take time away from the restaurant as long as he won. Even though his fleet footed talent landed him a scholarship at Idaho University, out of obligation to his family, he declined. This fledging enterprise grew into the renowned and popular Mike’s Restaurant, operated by the Demos family for three generations.

He served in the Army on assignment to the air squadron ground crew from December 1943 through November 1945.

His passion was golf and he was a gifted and patient teacher to anyone who truly wanted to learn the skill. When he wasn’t on the course he was likely at the track playing the horses. He thoroughly enjoyed people and being immersed in the social atmosphere that surrounded the restaurants, clubs and tracks. Most recently he was a resident at the Maine Veterans’ Home in Scarborough, making many new friends even late in his life.

Surviving are his sons, Robert M. Demos of Florida, and Allan K. Demos of California; his sister, Barbara Toupadakis of California; and his daughter, Diane Davison of Portland; five granddaughters, Rachel Demos of Augusta, Rebecca Singleton of Topsham, Faith Demos and Grace Demos, both of California, Joy Demos of New York City; and four great-grandchildren, Matthew and Nathan Childs and James and Lillian Singleton.