Daniel J. Samitas

Daniel J Samitas was born in McKeesport, PA and raised in Greece. He returned to Pittsburgh, PA before the outbreak of WWII and subsequently enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He served in the Pacific theater as a radio operator aboard B17 and B29 Bombers. Upon his return, he married his current wife Mary Makris and began work at Westinghouse and continued his schooling. He valued hard work and education and managed to become and Electrical Engineer working as the Chief Electrical Engineer for Kaiser Engineering in Pittsburgh, PA in the 1960’s designing electrical systems and power plants for the steel industry. In 1973, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of moving to Florida with his family where he continued his work in the design of power plants and petrochemical plants in Tampa with Badger-Raytheon Engineering until his retirement.

Throughout his life he served in the Greek Orthodox Church. In his early years he was a Catechism teacher and subsequently became a Cantor and served on the Parish Council. He was a member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Pittsburgh, PA, St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox in Tampa, FL and finally St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church in Melbourne, FL. He loved his Greek Heritage and enjoyed Greek Folk Dancing.

His greatest loves however, were his children and grandchildren. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, always encouraging and instilling a passion for learning and emphasizing the importance of the Orthodox faith and Greek Heritage. He is survived by his wife Mary of 70 years, his daughter Effie Samitas and son-in-law Mark Psarakis, daughter-in-law Elaine Samitas, and five grandchildren, Dan, Harrison, Maryelen, Catherine and Maria.

There will be a visitation held from 1-2pm on Monday, October 30 at St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church where a funeral service will begin at 2pm. Interment will be at Florida Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers the family is asking donations be made to St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church in Melbourne, FL or Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Orlando in Maitland, FL.