Nikolaos D. Panteleakis
1932 – 2013
SPRINGFIELD – Nikolaos Demetriou Panteleakis, 81, of Worthington Street died Thursday, December 26, 2013 in Baystate Medical Center after a long illness. He was born in Bambaka, Greece, survived the Nazi Occupation and as a teenager fought in the war against communism. He attended the Greek Naval Academy and worked as an executive Officer of cruise ships and oil tankers, where severe weather injured him, leaving him hospitalized in Charlotte, NC. While in Charlotte he met his wife of 43 years Evelyn J. (Hathcock) Panteleakis. Nick as his friends called him was a prolific restaurateur, having opened 72 restaurants across the country. He could build anything and was a poet in his own right. For the last 10 years he lived with his son and his family in Springfield. He leaves his son Demetrios Panteleakis and his wife Erin of Springfield, two daughters Eleni Morrison of Agawam and Emily Kalatzis of Johannesburg, South Africa; six grandchildren Niko, Hannah, Kyriakos and Petros Panteleakis, Eleana Kalatzis and Evelyn Morrison. Besides his wife, Nick was predeceased by a daughter Nikoletta Panteleakis in 1996. He was laid to rest in the place of his birth Bambaka, Greece surrounded by four generations of friends and family. His wake was held in the home he was born and raised in. A forty day memorial will be held at The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on February 9th at approximately 11am. Memorial gifts are to be in form of donations to Holy Trinity for their charitable outreach. For more details please visit curranjones.com.