Demetrius Babiak

Demetrius Babiak passed away peacefully on January 29, 2021, at the age of 97. Born November 1, 1923 in a Ukrainian village in Lug, Poland, he immigrated with his parents, two brothers, and one sister through Ellis Island to Spring Valley, NY. in 1930. At the age of 18, he enlisted in the US Navy where he received medic training and served until the end of WWII as a combat medic for 200 men in the Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit.

Having enjoyed his medical work, he returned to Spring Valley where he completed high school and met his future wife, Shirley Miller. He earned his degree in physical therapy from NYU and married Shirley after she graduated from Barnard College.

Demetrius worked as a physical therapist in the NY Polio Clinic and in the Neuropsychiatric Department of the V.A. Hospital in Palo Alto, California before taking the position of Director of Physical Therapy at Louisville, Kentucky's V.A. Hospital, which he held for 26 years. With his wife and five children, the family enjoyed many outdoor activities including scuba diving, fishing, camping, and gardening.

In 1976, Demetrius and Shirley began their dancing career as international folk dancers, performing on the Louisville Riverfront where a dance group that they founded continues to this day. Retiring from their professional careers in 1981, the couple relocated to Sarasota, Florida. For nearly four decades to follow, they dedicated themselves to their passion for dancing: Traveling the world to learn dances while forging lasting friendships; bridging cultural and generational gaps by teaching and performing their dances to people of all ages. Their children and grandchildren were frequent members of the Babiak Dance Ensemble.

Demetrius will be greatly missed by the many people whose lives he touched. He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Shirley Babiak; children: Cristina Babiak (Eric Sturgess) of Englewood, FL, and Andrew Babiak (Leslie) of Sarasota, FL; daughter-in-law Rose Babiak of Louisville, KY; 9 grandchildren: Stacy Janiak (Jeff); Dee Babiak (Heather); Sarah McClave (Ben); Jenny Ciszewski (Steve); Jonah Zwemer (Abby); Andrea Velat (Chris); Logan Babiak; Nick Condatore (Sasha); Maria Bullard (Trey); 19 great grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends. Metro is now united with his children Peter Babiak, Philip Babiak, and Anna Maria Condatore.

Special thanks are extended to the Venice Hospital hospice staff who provided Demetrius with gentle, dignified care.

Services with military honors will be held at Sarasota National Cemetery, Monday, February 8, 2021 at 11:30 am. Celebration of Demetrius' life, music and dance will be held at his favorite fishing spot, Nokomis North Jetty, at a future time.