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In memory of

Ellis Theodorakos

Bethesda, MD, USA

September 24, 1953 - June 15, 2021

Sep 24, 1953 - Jun 15, 2021

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Elissaios (Ellis) John Theodorakos

September 24, 1953 – June 15, 2021

Ellis Theodorakos passed suddenly from heart failure at home on June 15th. He leaves all who loved him hungry forever for his wit, hugs, companionship, and beautiful poetry.

He is survived by his wife Ann Gillespie, daughter Elizabeth Audrey (21) and Liam John (15), who were the pride and joy of Ellis’ life. He will be deeply missed by his surviving sibling, George Theodorakos, his wife Danica and their two children, Tess, and Alexander.

Ellis was born in Washington DC. His father, John, immigrated from Greece after World War II and his mother, Angelina (Caperones) was first generation Greek. He took on the role of big brother when George joined the family, living in the DC suburbs, enjoying summer vacations in Ocean City. Growing up in a Greek family, celebrating Greek family traditions with his many uncles, aunts, and cousins, he loved to make Greek dishes like “ganzas”, a simple sweet pancake covered in honey that his father learned to make in the Greek Navy.

From a young age, he spent summers working for his dad’s construction company, learning the business that he would eventually choose for his own career. When he was 14, Ellis declared his commitment to architecture. He earned his master’s degree from the University of Maryland School of Architecture and started his career in commercial and retail office space in downtown Washington. In the mid-1990s, he shifted his work to residential real estate, designing and building an impressive collection of custom homes in the Bethesda-Chevy Chase area. He loved his work, using the spiritual principal of elevating everything you touch, as he worked side by side with his incredible crew and poured his talent into his creations.

Ellis and Ann met through a video dating service before virtual matchmaking was trendy. They married ten months after their first date and would have celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary in October. Their shared love deepened with the arrival of Elizabeth and then Liam. There was nothing on earth Ellis loved more than being a husband and father. Listening to Elizabeth belt out Broadway show tunes and watching Liam create works of art were profoundly joyful times for him, along with the attractive ordinary of everyday life--cub scouts, voice lessons, Sunday breakfasts and patiently training his 10-month-old Aussiedoodle, Gracie.

Ellis considered one of his greatest gifts being embraced by Ann’s large and loving family. He quickly adapted to co-hosting with her what he referred to as “the myriad excuses the group had for spending time together”, birthdays, picnics and his favorite, an annual Harvest Dinner. He considered her brothers and sisters his siblings and was grieving with them the recent loss of Ann’s two brothers, Joe, and Tony. He will be remembered fondly as a caring and sometimes silly Uncle by their 12 nieces, 7 nephews and 22 grand nieces and nephews.

Ellis was a wonderful friend and had a special group of lifelong companions with whom he shared monthly meals and travels to ski, scuba dive and explore interesting places. The group just spent a wonderful Memorial Day Post-Covid weekend together at Bethany Beach.

Ellis was a spiritual student; he devoted his life to God and his family, in that order. His powerful and resounding love for the Divine came rushing through him and into beautiful poems. Here is a recent “invitation” for all of us:

One Light
separate but not alone
we each burn our Light
lighting the path of others
whose Light signals our own path
fueled by our wick
stemmed from the core
the brighter our Light
the brighter of others
intertwined as the threads weaved in our wick
we are destined to burn as One
each True connection can only burn as
One
this reminder must commit
our day
our direction
our every word and deed
Amen

Ellis “Theo”, January 2021

A private funeral service for family will take place Monday June 28th; plans for a Celebration of Life in September for all friends and family are underway; details to be shared as soon as possible.

With love and light in Him,

Ann, Elizabeth, and Liam

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