That was Harry Diavatis, a man for all seasons. A man Bishop Gerasimos of the Greek Orthodoxy Archdiocese in San Francisco called “ a true legend of Vallejo. ” And man who, said one supporter, “ was a supporter to everyone — whether he knew them or not. ”
The life Vallejoan, community field actor and conductor, retired Cal-Maritime Academy athletic director, and ace for the city, died in his sleep May 23. He was 73 .
Diavatis was laid to rest Wednesday at All Souls Cemetery following a one-hour funeral service at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Vallejo.
About 200 supporters crammed the church, with Fa. Nebojsa Pantic and Diavatis ’ son, Fa. Michael Diavatis, officiating. Ted Correy was an altar male child at the church service when he met Harry Diavatis moved to town in 1959 .
“ He was unique, ” Correy said. “ Everyone followed him. He led, but he was a sheep at the like time because he was the one we cared about. ”
Dan Dion, a Vallejo Sports Hall of Fame inductee and early St. Patrick-St. Vincent leading basketball actor and SPSV bus, said he was lured out of retirement by Diavatis to coach Cal Maritime basketball from 1996-2004 .
“ He was one of a kind, ” Dion said. “ And he was such a firm guy. After I first met Harry, we were friends from that day on. ”
It was Diavatis ’ “ resource and his vision ” that Dion admired. “ I always supported him. ”
Dion believes Diavatis was under-appreciated at Cal-Maritime .
“ He did an incredible job and the university is where it is partially because of Harry, which I think is overlooked, ” said Dion .
Dion said he was going to “ unretire ” for one year to take on the Keelhaulers ’ basketball plan. Diavatis talked him into staying eight seasons .
“ That was Harry, ” said Dion .
Jerry Annoni said he ’ s distillery “ in shock ” from his longtime theater colleague ’ sulfur evanesce. It was Annoni, Chuck Waters, and Diavatis that kept the defunct amerind Alley Theater alive for a handful of years in the 1990s .
“ He was a great director, ” said Annoni, recalling his function under Diavatis ’ insomniac eye in “ A Thousand Clowns. ”
“ He could get you to do things because he equitable knew, ” Annoni said “ He ’ south been on stage and you could actually rely on him and trust him. When Harry directed, my act was in his hands and I knew he was not going to make a gull of me. ”
Annoni, 83, said he “ was fortunate ” to know Diavatis .
“ What a hole he leaves, ” Annoni said.
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Jimmy Lemos, a dear ally of Diavatis ’ son, Jason, said that he last saw Harry about three weeks ago .
“ Vallejo loses a great man, founder, buddy and friend, ” Lemas said. “ I ’ ve never seen person give thus a lot to the residential district. ”
Jack Renfro, retired Vallejo High School athletic director and football bus, said Diavatis was just “ a fantastic man, identical feel for who cared about people. ”
Diavatis, said Dave Plump, was equally versatile as anyone he knew .
“ He always had his hand filled with everything, ” Plump said, admiring Diavatis ’ ability to solve a problem .
“ When something wasn ’ thyroxine right, he would pick up loose ends and make it right, ” Plump said. “ He was quite a ridicule. ”
“ Harry was a acquaintance to everyone, ” said Cindy Sproule, who dates back about 35 years with Diavatis .
It was Diavatis who introduced Sproule to “ Les Misérables. ”
“ God bless him, ” she said. “ He had the music in the cable car when we were driving over to see it in the city as he explained the report. Since then, I ’ ve seen it 10 times. ”
Diavatis, said Sproule, “ was always thinking of what he could do to help people. ”
Diavatis was a patriotic alumnus of Vallejo High School, interminably fighting to keep the Apache mascot that was dropped for the Redhawks in 2014. As a big lump of his devotion to VHS, he maintained an electronic newsletter emailed every Monday that showcased Diavatis ’ wry sense of humor and friendships with former classmates .
“ My dad was amazing, ” said Jason Diavatis, calling his church father ’ sulfur death “ the toughest thing I ’ ve ever been through. ”
Deme Stall-Nash, one of the church ’ sulfur event organizers and fundraisers, said she received a call from Harry merely a few days before he died .
“ He wanted to have a ‘ greek Night, ’ and said ‘ We ’ ll put wine on the tables. ’ He said he was excited and feeling dependable, ” Stall-Nash said. “ And he died on my dad ’ randomness birthday. ”
Tom Bartee, field representative for country Sen. Bill Dodd, said the senate in Sacramento adjourned this workweek “ in memory of Harry Diavatis. ”
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“ Harry was a repair in Vallejo in many different ways, ” Bartee said. “ Over the last workweek, a number of friends of mine — some who knew Harry their entire life — shared some interesting anecdotes of some of his experiences. He was an energetic, creative homo who cared profoundly about Vallejo. ”
As much clock as Diavatis spend at Scotty ’ south on Tennessee Street, “ they should name a booth after him, ” Lemas said. “ possibly a doughnut called ‘ The Harry D. ’ ”
“ What a hole he leaves, ” Annoni said .