Serafim was born in Viniani and was the son of George Mantis and Maria Papaspyrou (Mantogeorgena). He came to America in 1953 and married Lillian Klasnick in 1956. He was a member of the American Culinary Federation of Chicago, as well as the Head Chef at Lake Forest Academy at Lake Forest, Illinois from 1981 to 1983. He was a loving father, and is survived by his two children (Mary-Ann and George), his four grandchildren (Justin, Jason, Nichole, and Joshua), and four great-grandchildren (Lillian, Sophia, Hunter, and Mason).