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Demetrios G. Kontaxis, Ph.D. (Feb. 9, 1925 ~ May 11, 2016)

Dr. Demetrios George Kontaxis Ph.D. was born in Psari-Trifilias-Greece to George and Sophia Kontaxis on February 9th 1925. As one of nine children, Demetrios graduated from the Athens Agricultural University in 1950 and, after time spent in Greece both in the Army and working for Queen Fredericka, came to California where in 1960 he earned his Ph.D. from the Plant Pathology Department at UC Berkeley. Demetrios studied for his graduate degree and married his wife Evanthia and upon graduation, was hired by the Del Monte Corporation where he supported their Pineapple Research Institute first in Hawaii Upon returning to the United States in 1965, Demetrios settled in Castro Valley with his wife and two children. In 1973, he was hired by UC Berkeley as a pathologist and nematologist in Imperial and Contra Costa Counties. During sabbatical leave in 1988, he visited Spain so as to study caper plant characteristics. Demetrios brought back 600 seedlings which were successfully transplanted for cultivation in California thereby earning the distinction of having facilitated the production of capers as a new and profitable California crop.