Del R. Zervopoulos
Memorial Page For Del R. Zervopoulos
Miss Beth & the Family would like to thank you all for the overwhelming outpouring of love, support & words of comfort.
We will be posting all current updates & Information for the March 3, 2012 Repast Memorial Celebration of Del’s life to be held in New Orleans at this link https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=689504319#!/events/172323876206048/
If you would like o contribute to the day with food, please bring finger food only with no service requirements please.
We lost a lost a Giant in our lives January 7th 2012. This page is our reflection back on how he touched each one of us in so many ways. He truly was larger than life! For those asking & looking for some comfort, please know that he lived life large, had way too much fun & went out painless & peacefuly as he slept.
Please post your memories, stories & words of comfort for Beth & The Family here. We will archive them & put in a book for the family to have to remember the wonderful man in their lives. The pictures you are all sending will be viewed in March & also sent to his family from afar.
Due to the outpouring of love & support & questions about donations to the family for Expenses & March Repast & Life Celebration we have added the pay pal link for ease of those wishing to do something from afar. Miss Beth & the entire family thanks you all more than words will ever express.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh,My God….What Happened???This is a total Shock…I want to extend my Personal condolences to Beth and the Rest of the NOLA WENCHES KREWE..Truely,a Friend was lost and will be missed always..May God Comfort all during this time of Great Sorrow..Well,I must say Del was a Character of the Highest Order and a Fun Person to have known..When I first started my Pirate Days,in Nawlins,He accepted me as one of the Krewe…He was fun being around at PyrateCon and at ShoreLeave and I will miss seeing him at this yrs Shoreleave..I don’t know what else to say at the moment,as I’m still shocked..He seemed to enjoy Life and He haD a Special Love for Beth..I KNOW THIS IS DEVASTATING FOR HER..Please give her My utmost Regards and Sympathy..Fair Winds and Calm Seas to All….DONALD..:)X
What in the hell can be said that had not already been said by so many. I am grateful Del and I honored our contract to meet in this life time and look forward to crossing paths and loving in the next. Del may have only live 48 short years, but the I assure you he jammed 108 in those 48!!! Love you friend, krewe mate and brother. xoxoxoxoxo
anything for him we will b there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here’s to my brother, Del. A man who brought joy & happiness into my life:
I have been so fortunate to have had you in my life. I love you and will miss you dearly. Thank you for all love, support and friendship you have brought into my life.
Del touched the hearts of each and every person that met him. He was always such a fun person that you make you laugh and smile on your worst days. Del was very special to those who knew him. I can remember walking by Hobnobbers during Mardi Gras, and getting something thrown at me, and I would look over and it was Del working the alley.The last time I saw Del was at the Dungeon’s Halloween party. Who would have ever thought that would be the last time I would have the joy of hearing his laugh. It hurts badly to know that he is gone, but he will forever live in the hearts of those who knew him. Rest in Peace Del, you are missed by many.
Larger Than Life
.by Christine Achille on Monday, January 9, 2012 at 11:46am.Sometimes, things happen in our lives that shake us so completely to the core that words cannot possibly express the crushing pain in our hearts.
This past Friday night, I got myself into my pirate gear and headed out to join the rest of my pirate krewe at a charity event for the New Orleans Maritime Heritage Foundation. It was a typical night out with my friends. My feet hurt because I forgot to put the gel pads in them, and for some reason my hat felt tighter. I kept saying maybe my head had gotten bigger. Del said was that it was not possible for my head to get any bigger than it already is.
We spent the evening out together as we usually do: laughing, drinking, taking pictures — enjoying one another’s company. Some of us talked about continuing the evening out in the Quarter, but I don’t think anyone did. I know I wasn’t going out, I had things to do in the morning. We all walked down St. Charles Avenue as a group, and when it was time for me to head home, I made my goodbyes. We are a pretty huggy sort of group, so I hugged all my friends. I said goodbye and we exchanged the usual “see you laters”.
The last person I said goodbye to was Del. I said, “Bye, Del, I love you!” as I waved my way out the door. He smiled and said “Shut the fuck up” and I laughed.
The next morning, I got the phone call telling me that Del had passed away in his sleep.
This could not be true, I thought. I had just seen him. We had laughed together and raised a glass together not twelve hours before. But it was.
I thought of Beth, his soulmate of seventeen years. How he loved her. They picked at each other, they bickered. It was his way. When he loved someone, he would pick at them, like a little boy dipping pigtails in an inkwell. But when you caught him looking at her, you knew the depth of his love for her. He had said to me only a few months ago that he couldn’t imagine his life without her.
Del was a big man in many ways. Often, he was described as larger than life, he owned his space on this earth. His presence filled a room, his voice grew and echoed around him. He stomped. He yelled. He threw back his head and laughed from his gut. He slapped his huge palm on the arm of a chair. He smacked you on the back, he clapped you on the shoulders. When he hugged you, he held you close, his arms wrapped around you, pressing you into his chest.
He was a tender man, too. He spoke baby-talk to my kitten. He gave his lunch leftovers to a man sitting on the sidewalk in the Quarter. He bought me an Irish Carbomb just because I said I had never had one. If I was sad, he comforted me. He told me he would do anything for me, and I knew it was true. He was generous in ways that many people never saw.
Del never held his tongue when you needed to hear the truth. Many times he would snap me back to reality. He would call me on my bullshit, ask me what the hell I was thinking when I dated someone he knew was no good for me. He made merciless fun of me the last night we were together, because I had been so proud of myself for making rice from scratch. He left me a voicemail that afternoon, asking why I would bother making rice when I should be making cocktails. He talked about my hair, he thought it was looking like crap lately, offered to streak it for me. He was brusque and blunt, but he was usually right. He would always end his diatribe with, “you know I love you.” And he was right about that, too.
He truly saw life as a banquet and was determined to stuff himself. He loved this city. He loved Mardi Gras, St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas. Every day was a day to explore and celebrate. A trip to the grocery store was an adventure. A streetcar ride was a party. A sandwich was a work of art.
Del touched so many lives, showed us how to embrace life. The hole he leaves in our hearts will be there always, but he will live on in all of us.
He lives on each time we put together a costume, each time we get together with friends and family. He lives on in every gear and cog, in every sword and baldric, in every bushy mustache we see. He lives on in every jello shot we slurp, in every bead and throw we catch.
He lives on when we cherish those we love. He lives on when we laugh.
There isn’t much more to say except I love Del. I could babble on and on about the many reasons why I love Del, but anyone who KNEW him would get whiplash from nodding in agreement. I am so glad that this remarkable person allowed me into his life.
This is one man that will be hard for anyone who met him to ever forget. He made you feel like you had been friends all your life. He was a straight shooter. He told it like it is. When Dee and I were in NOLA before Christmas we went on the bad Santa pub crawl. I still remember the happiness I felt when I saw Del and Beth there getting ready to go. I knew right then we were going to have a good time. I will miss Del, he might not have been born in New Orleans but he sure did belong there.
Our deepest condolences to his family & friends. Such a shock. Over that last 5 years we got to meet Del in his pyrate persona on quite a few occasions. Such an exhuberant soul, so full of life and always a kind word and a big smile. I will miss his giant bear hugs and his joyful cry of ” Madam Hellbound” very very sad indeed. We won’t be there to attend the celebration of his life as we don’t arrive in NOLA until the end of March, but…hope to see all his family & friends once we arrive and raise a tankard in his honour. Hugs to all who knew him well. He will definitely be missed (xoxo)
As the days go by, the legend grows. Anyone who came to develop a fondness for Del will never look at goggles or gears without a chuckle. Conventions where Steampunk Americans were featured will be forever graced with character. He was as iconic a pirate with the Krewe as he was medallion-worthy at every St. Charles Avenue parade. A strand of Creole tomato beads will be forever treasured by this Del-dubbed ‘bead whore’ where they sway from the specially adapted ‘Steampunk Americans’ Christmas tree hook in my Avondale home office. Love you, Del, and my love to Beth, Meg, Cher, Jay, Jade and the Krewe.
Dear Beth,
I’m so sorry for your loss. Althought I never had the pleasure of meeting Del, I feel that I got a good sence of his love for life as well as his love for you and Megan through yours and Megan’s posts. You are all in my prayers… peace & love…
I still sift through my FB pictures trying to find my favorite one with him..but I love them all…and dearly wish that I had more to accompany them, I will always miss him..what a great man to know. *tips hat*
I wrote a blog post about Del:
http://teawithdee.blogspot.com/2012/01/best-things-in-life.html
Here is the text portion, minus photos:
THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE
This morning we received one of those phone calls that no one ever wants. One of our dear New Orleans friends passed away during the night. That’s him on the right in the picture above. Del was our captain when we first got involved with the NOLA Wenches. He was one of those larger-than-life characters who lived life to the very fullest, sucking the marrow from the bone of every moment.
Del, along with his precious partner, Beth, chose to make New Orleans his home and embraced it with a fervor that was truly inspiring. A costumer-extraordinaire, New Orleans was the perfect place for him to display his talents. He was always planning some activity for all his willing cohorts. And there were usually jello shots, an art he had perfected.
As we mourn our friend, David and I are all the more determined to live our lives to the fullest, embracing each moment, trying new things, eschewing fear, loving on our friends and family, and squeezing every drop of joy out of life. After receiving the sad news this morning, David posted the following status update on Facebook:
“Life is not about money. Life is about love and friendship.”
R.I.P. Del
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He will be missed by all who were privileged to know him. Love and hugs to Beth and the rest of his family.
I met Del when Pyratecon first came to New Orleans and since then we were friends,pirate brethren and drinking buddy,even when things wasn’t going so well for me,Del always said “Do what you can do but do it right” !!! Those words has stuck in me and will now always be my motto,I haven’t been back to NOLA since 2010 and i do miss it and now i regret that i didn’t get to raise tankers with me brethren, but mate you will always be able at the helm …..where ye belong, Good thoughts for his wife Beth ( who my wife will always remember ) and his family.
Dell and Bethie we love you, forever. Dell was, and is, larger than life in reality and in our hearts and minds. An unforgettable man who’s legacy will be carried forth, as he wanted. He will be missed, I am sorry I didnt meet him sooner.
This came as a total shock, i’ll be honest when i say i couldn’t help but cry when i heard the news. I only met Del once but he was someone who could impact your entire life with a simple talk. I know everyone has probably said this but he is going to be missed. My deepest condolences go to his wonderful wife and to his family. My prayers are with you all.
I met Del at the last Mecha con, we were across from each other in the artist alley, all weekend, he and i and my crew laughed and joked and carried on. We had such a time carrying on with whose false (or real) mustache was better and about ideas for steampunk. Del was my back bone for attempting my steam punk costume, and because of his encouragement i felt like it was accepted and a success. I wish i had more time with him and his wife while we were all in New Orleans but i will always treasure those days we did have goofing off. His smile will always warm hearts and even now i can hear him laughing. Rest in Peace Del you got so many people here that love you.
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