Leonidas Demetrious (Leo) Speros, 91, of Bethany Beach, Delaware, formerly of Potomac, Maryland, passed away peacefully on June 29th, 2023 in Potomac Falls, Virginia.  His presence will forever remain in the hearts and memories of everyone who knew him. Born on May 2nd, 1932 in Washington, D.C. to James and Vasilikie Speros, Leo was an accomplished restauranteur 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. In 1950, Leo, won the prestigious high school football athlete of the year award, the "Jim Thorpe Award".   Over the many scholarship offers Leo received, he chose to embark on a college career at the 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 80's and 90's Leo and his wife, Linda, owned restaurant establishments Leo & Linda's in Georgetown, Washington D.C., and the Clubhouse Sports Restaurant in Gaithersburg, Maryland, prior to their retirement to Bethany Beach, Delaware, 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, Maryland, and later, Saint Ann's Catholic Church in Bethany Beach, Delaware.  Leo and his wife raised 8 children, and was affectionally known as "Pappy" to his 16 grandchildren and 5 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 attending 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 of Bedford, VA, Vasilia Speros Vidi and her husband, Peter of Lakewood Ranch, FL, James L Speros and his wife, Ellen of Great Falls, VA, Angie Speros Scarfone and her husband, Danny of Parkland, FL, George T. Speros and his partner, Chuck Blevins of Richmond, VA, Pete C. Speros and his wife, Jessica of Naples, FL, Christie Speros Quinn of Seaford, DE and Charlene Speros Bryan and her husband,Tim of Ocean View, DE; 16 grandchildren; Jeff, Shea, Carlin, Jimmy, Christopher, Danny Jr., Will, Alexa, Victoria, Justin, Briana, Kayla, Carmine, Maelyn, Avery, and McNevin, and 5 great grandchildren, Blake, Sophia, Leo, Ophelia and Auberon.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 AM on Monday, July 31, 2023, at St. Ann Catholic Church, 691 Garfield Parkway, Bethany Beach, DE 19930, with a visitation starting at 10 AM. Following the services, the family invites everyone to continue celebrating Leo at Bear Trap Dunes, 7 Clubhouse Drive, Ocean View, DE.  In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to a charity which was very close to Leo's heart, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, www.stjude.org