Ralli Frank Dimitrius, a loving and devoted father of 3, who was a successful entrepreneur for over 65 years, fought a long heroic battle with tongue cancer with his family by his side, peacefully passed away on Good Friday, April 17th, 2020 in San Gabriel, California. He was 89.

Ralli is survived by his adoring daughter, Evro-Nicole, his son-in-law, Albert and his two sons, Ralli Francis, and Harlan Stirling Dimitrius and his daughter-in-law, Stella. Ralli is also survived by his sisters, Xenia Dimitriou Panos and Lenora Dimitriou Defterios, and his brother, James F. Dimitriou. He was predeceased by his older sister, Malamatenia (Mollie) Dimitriou Stylianides, his mother, Evro Rallis Dimitriou, and his father, Frank Dimitriou.

Ralli's large extended family includes many nieces, nephews and cousins. He relished his family's many holiday get-togethers, from weddings, to the Greek Easter Picnic and other special events. He loved inviting family and friends to his 4th of July parties at his beach house on the Strand in Hermosa Beach and to his Christmas and New Year's holiday parties in Aspen, Colorado or at his historic "Redstone Castle" also in Colorado. Meals out with family and friends were his favorite of pastimes.

Ralli's story is that of a successful 2nd generation Greek immigrant family from the Island of Marmara. Both his mother, Evriklia (Evro) Rallis Dimitriou, and his father, Frangulis (Frank) Dimitriou, came from the island of Marmara in the early 20th Century. His grandfather, who he is named after, was "Capitaneous Rallis," the proprietor of the "Acropolis Cafe" the first Greek Coffee House in Los Angeles in 1906.

Ralli's father, Frank Dimitriou, arrived in Los Angeles in 1914 and opened a grocery store with his brother-in-law, Peter Rallis. "Frank's Complete Market" operated for over 50 years near Jefferson High School on 41st & Central in Los Angeles. Ralli's first job was working with his father and uncle for many years beginning in high school.

Ralli was born in Los Angeles and grew up on West 75th Street near the old Pepperdine Campus. He attended the neighborhood elementary, Raymond Avenue School, Horace Mann Jr. High School and Washington High School where he was a member of the football team. His 3 sisters, and his cousins, Rallie Rallis and John Rallis, all joined him and other Greek students at Washington High School. Afternoons were often spent attending Greek School and his special passion, playing his baby-grand piano to the delight of his "Yiayia," his grandmother, Polixeni Rallis who also lived with the family.

Being a very Greek household, every afternoon of his childhood he found his several Greek ladies including his Aunt, Katherine Peratis Rallis, his mother and grandmother enjoying coffee and special Greek delicacies. Ralli was fortunate to have attended St. Sophia Cathedral with his family and friends along with the many youth activities of Goya and Greek School.

In the summers, the family often had special beach weekends in Hermosa and Long Beach. In early years, other Marmarini rented little beach cottages together in Hermosa Beach near the Pier. Most did so for their family to enjoy the summers, being working men that could not afford to be away from their markets.

As a teenager, Ralli developed a love of music, movies and theater, and later working out and bodybuilding at the first Vic Tanny Gym and was a regular at the infamous "Muscle Beach" in Santa Monica on weekends alongside some well-known celebrities. He also became an avid custom classic automobile collector and was fortunate to have George Barris, who later became known as the "Custom Car King", customize his classic 1949 Mercury. He went on to collect more than 100 classic cars over his lifetime, including his favorite, an extremely rare 1964 Ferrari Superamerica, making his personal collection one of much admiration.

Ralli would enlist in the United States Air Force with the advent of the Korean War. He served active duty in both Korea and Germany with the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. He achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant and was honorably discharged in 1955. He continued his love of the piano, playing for the Officers Club while in the service, as well as having had a successful military boxing record. Upon returning home, he enrolled in El Camino College and then completed his studies at USC, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and enjoyed being a member of several theatrical productions. He went on to pursue an acting career for a short time appearing in the television series "Gunsmoke".

Ralli's first reach into his entrepreneurial adventures was the purchase of his Shell Gas Station on 190th Street in Torrance, where he worked tireless days alongside his beloved nephews, Jerry, Frankie & John Defterios. He later expanded to purchase a second gas station nearby. From there he would return to his favorite place, Hermosa Beach, first constructing an apartment complex on Monterey and later designing and developing the tallest property on the Strand, near where he spent many summers as a child. Those two properties were the catalysts to his expansive real estate investment career which ultimately included many holdings in California, Colorado (where he loved to ski), Nevada and even several properties in the south of France. Ralli combined his zest for life with his unique skills in business.

He married Jo-Ellan Huebner in 1977 and they went on to have 3 loving children together - Nikki, Francis & Stirling.

In 1980, a year after his first child, Nikki, was born, he branched out and purchased the Towne & Country elementary school in Pasadena, California, which he purchased with the sole intention of being able to spend every day working on campus next to all 3 of his children for their entire Preschool through 8th grade education. Even after his children graduated from college, he continued to keep them close, recruiting them into his ventures. Nikki & Stirling continue to operate his business interests and his son, Francis, is a well-known Executive Chef in Los Angeles, who like his father, has appeared on several TV shows.

Ralli remained a very loyal Trojan! He always loved donating to the Trojan Marching Band and had season football tickets for decades for the whole family, always getting to campus bright and early on game day for the best parking spot and to fully enjoy tailgating get-togethers prior to games.

Family was always an important factor in every facet of Ralli's life. His special escape winter vacation home in Aspen was where he loved to have the ultimate skiing holiday with his 3 children, sisters, brother, nieces, nephews & friends, who he always treated like extended family, invited to join him every holiday season from Christmas through New Year's. His favorite Summer House became another holiday destination on the 4th of July near the Hermosa Pier on the Strand. For many years his nephews, Jerry, Frankie and John Defterios spent many wonderful months staying with their Uncle Ralli at the beach. Every summer, he chose a new country to visit with his 3 children as he loved showing them the world. Together they traveled to places like Ireland, Germany (visiting his former home, Sembach Air Force base, as well as the Mercedes-Benz factory), Italy, Spain, France, the Canary Islands, Greece, Morocco, Turkey, Monaco, Seychelles, Kenya, Tanzania & Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mozambique, Egypt, South Africa, Madagascar, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Canada, Alaska, Mauritius, and Zimbabwe. Catching sun on the beach in Mykonos & the Greek islands for months at a time were among some of his favorite vacations with his family. Another dream vacation was going to the Formula 1 race in Abu Dhabi with his family at the invite of his nephew John Defterios who treated him to a Paddock Pass in the Royal Suite on the finish line.

Ralli lived the most extraordinary of lives, always forging his own path and living by his own rules. He loved deeply and was the most generous of people. His self-discipline and enthusiasm for life were unparalleled. He was adored by all who had the honor of knowing him. The legacy that he leaves is one of unconditional love, resilience and an unimaginable zest for life.

Due to the current health restrictions, private funeral service at Saint Sophia Cathedral on Wednesday, April 22, 2020. Interment at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to Tower Cancer Research foundation – www.towercancer.org

Arrangements under the direction of Chapman Funeral Homes - Terry & Mary Harmon, Funeral Directors. Toll free (855) 628-0447.

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Obituary notice for Chapman Funeral Homes. Please visit www.chapmanfuneraldirectors.com .

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