Leonidas Demetrious Speros, accomplished restaurateur
Leonidas Demetrious (Leo) Speros, 91, of Bethany Beach, formerly of Potomac, Md, passed away peacefully Thursday, June 29, 2023, in Potomac Falls, Va. His presence will forever remain in the hearts and memories of everyone who knew him. He was born May 2, 1932, in Washington, D.C., to James and Vasilikie Speros.
Leo was an accomplished restaurateur in the Washington D.C. area. Leo graduated from Wilson High School in 1949, where he was a standout athlete, first team All-Metropolitan in football, basketball, and baseball. Leo won the coveted Washington D.C. Touchdown Club Timmie Award for outstanding high school football player in Washington in 1949. Over the many scholarship offers Leo received, he chose to embark on a college career at University of Maryland, where he played for legendary head football coach Jim Tatum. His success as a football player was the first highlight of a life filled with an abundance of family, friends, and teammates. Following his football career, the Speros family purchased the 65-acre Normandy Farm Restaurant in 1956, where it became a landmark award-winning fine dining establishment in the Washington, D.C. area for a quarter-century. In the ‘80s and ‘90s, Leo and his wife, Linda, owned restaurant establishments Leo & Linda’s in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., and Clubhouse Sports Restaurant in Gaithersburg, Md., prior to their retirement to Bethany Beach in 1999, where they resided for the last 24 years. In his early years, Leo was a member of Saint Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Leo and Linda were members of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Potomac, Md., and later, Saint Ann’s Catholic Church in Bethany Beach. Leo and his wife raised eight children, and he was affectionally known as Pappy to his 16 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Leo loved spending time with his family and friends, and had a true love of all sports, especially when it involved his own children and grandchildren. He enjoyed nothing more than spending Saturday afternoons cheering on his children and grandchildren at their college football games over many years. Pappy also found a unique pride and joy in attending his grandchildren’s dance recitals, musical performances, equestrian shows, softball games, and many other experiences he shared with them. Leo always found a reason to celebrate, enjoy life, laugh, tell stories, eat and drink! During the summertime, you could catch Leo on the beaches of Bethany soaking up the sun with family and friends. When he wasn’t enjoying the beach, you could find him in the gym, as he was an avid weightlifter.
In addition to his parents, Leo was preceded in death by his beautiful wife, Linda; and his beloved brother, George. He is survived by his eight children, Charee Gile, Vasilia Speros Vidi and her husband Peter of Lakewood Ranch, Fla., James L. Speros and his wife Ellen of Great Falls, Va., Angie Speros Scarfone and her husband Danny of Parkland, Fla., George T. Speros and his partner Chuck Blevins of Richmond, Va., Pete C. Speros and his wife Jessica of Naples, Fla., Christie Speros Quinn of Seaford, and Charlene Speros Bryan and her husband Tim of Ocean View; 16 grandchildren, Jeff, Shea, Carlin, Jimmy, Christopher, Danny Jr., Will, Alexa, Victoria, Justin, Briana, Kayla, Carmine, Maelyn, Avery, and McNevin; and five great-grandchildren, Blake, Sophia, Leo, Ophelia and Auberon.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, July 31, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 691 Garfield Pkwy., Bethany Beach, with a visitation starting at 10 a.m. Following the services, the family invites everyone to continue celebrating Leo at Bear Trap Dunes, 7 Clubhouse Drive, Ocean View.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to a charity very close to Leo’s heart, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, stjude.org.
Online condolences may be sent by visiting melsonfuneralservices.com.
