Demosthenes D. Dasco MD

Demosthenes Dasco, MD, age 88, retired Springfield area neurosurgeon of Longmeadow died of complications of COVID 19 on January 21, 2021. 

He was born in Thessaloniki, Greece on June 15, 1932, the son of Demetrios and Irene Daskopoulos. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 62 years, Marion (St. John) Dasco. He also leaves behind and will be greatly missed by his four children and their spouses, Irene and husband Lawrence Madden of Longmeadow, Demetrios and wife Sarah of Hingham, Joseph and wife Meghan of Monson, and Alexander and wife Teresa of Hingham. He was also the proud grandfather (Papou) of his 12 grandchildren, Zoe and Gabrielle Madden, Callum and George Dasco, Dylan, Christine and Andrew Dasco, and William, Cassandra, Kevin, Alison and Thomas Dasco. He loved his grandchildren very much and never missed an opportunity during their birthday celebrations to use his surgical precision to make the first cuts of their birthday cake with all gathered around him to watch as he said in Greek, “one for you, one for me…” 

He is also survived by a sister, Celia and her three children and their families, and a brother Antonis and wife Lena and their two children and families all in Thessaloniki, Greece. In the early days, his family would gather around once a month to call home to Greece, but with Skype and FaceTime, Demos was able to call his brother and sister everyday which provided him hours of fun conversation. 

Demosthenes is also survived by his wife’s sister Artemis and her husband Michael Davey of Venice, Florida and their children and families. 

Demosthenes was godfather (Nouno) to many as well. 

After completing his medical school at Aristotelian College in Thessaloniki, Greece he was then granted a Fulbright Scholarship to Yale University Medical Center in New Haven, Ct. Dr. Dasco completed his residency at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in New York City. He was then appointed to then-called Springfield Hospital as well as Mercy Hospital. Dr. Dasco was a well respected and longtime neurosurgeon in Springfield from 1965 to 2018. He was Chief of the Department of Neurosurgery at Baystate Medical Center from 1975 to 1992. He was also President of the New England Neurosurgical Society. He truly loved his calling as a physician and the patients he was able to serve over the years. 

Demosthenes and his wife Marion were members of the William Rice Society of the Springfield Library and Museums. They also contributed to the Springfield Symphony and were members of WGBY’s Murrow Society. After a 50 year career affiliated with Baystate Medical Center, he also helped with the building campaign of the Cardiac wing of the Daly Building. His love of education also inspired him to contribute to the building campaign at BayPath University. 

Demosthenes and Marion were among the first families in the early 1980s to found and help build their church, The Greek Orthodox Church of St. Luke in East Longmeadow. Together they helped raise funds, chaired committees and volunteered service to help to establish their Greek Orthodox community. 

Demothenes’ greatest pride and joy was his family and sharing time together at their family beach house in Giant’s Neck, Niantic, Ct. Throughout the years he enjoyed his boat and fishing with his children and grandchildren as well as pleasure cruising with his wife and many friends. He was a gracious and generous host and the beach house was a gathering place for celebrations large and small with friends and relatives from near and far. 

He was an inspiration to his family, a life saver to his patients, a respected colleague and a generous community leader. His legacy will be strong and he will be greatly missed. 

The family kindly asks that donations in Demosthenes’ memory be made to the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Luke, 400 Prospect St. East Longmeadow, or the charity of your choice. 

Funeral arrangements for Doctor Demosthenes D.Dasco will be on Monday February 8,2021 at the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Luke, 400 Prospect St., East Longmeadow, MA. A lying-in-state for friends to pay their respects will be held from 10:30am to 11:30am with strict protocols that must be followed including wearing of masks and social distancing. The family kindly asks that visitors follow the direction of the ushers who will be available to provide guidance. The funeral service and burial to follow will be private for the family however it will be live streamed at 11:30AM accessible by this link.