Nicholas Vasilios Skeadas was born on February 19, 1922 in Manhattan, NY, and he fell asleep in the Lord on October 26, 2018, in West Palm Beach, FL. His parents were Christos Skeadas and Yiannoula (Jenny) Theodoropoulos, who had emigrated to the United States, from Magoula, Sparta, Greece, prior to his birth. He attended the public school system in Manhattan, where he enjoyed playing stickball and handball on the streets and in the playgrounds of Manhattan. He continued to play four wall handball and later indoor racquetball well into his nineties. Upon leaving high school, with his family, he purchased the building at 100 East 116th Street, where he opened a florist shop. He successfully operated this retail store for many years. He also operated several more florist shops in Manhattan, and, subsequently, he operated another florist shop in Yonkers, NY. After leaving the florist shop business, he assisted his sons in their restaurant and real estate businesses. Over his lifetime, he had homes in Manhattan, Yonkers, NY, Bedford Village, NY, Hartsdale, NY and Vero Beach, FL.
He married Dena Carellas, from Springfield, MA, on June 20, 1943. Dena was one of four children from Panagiotis (Peter) and Helen Varlas Carellas. Dena fell asleep in the Lord on March 13, 1994. Nicholas and Dena had four sons, Christos, Peter James, Nicholas, Jr. and John Louis. Christos married Georgia Mermegas, and they have two children, Peter Christos and Mariana Constantina. Peter Christos married Amanda Garrett, and they have one daughter, Penelope Rose. Peter James married Aphrodite Grammas, and they have two children, Constantina and Nicholas Peter. Nicholas Peter married Erica Kasuli, and they have one daughter, Genevieve Aphrodite, and one son, Julian Alexander. Nicholas, Jr. married and then was divorced from Maria Rhea Souhleris, and they have one daughter, Constantina Chloe. John Louis married Chrissa Lefes, and they have three daughters, Theodora Marie, Georgia Eve and Dena Helen. Theodora Marie married Wael Khobalatte.
Nicholas will be remembered for his openness, his vivacity, his enthusiasm, his zest for life, and his passion for relishing every moment. He loved his family, and he loved to be surrounded by people who simply wanted to enjoy themselves. In many ways, he was the proverbial “life of the party”.
He will be profoundly missed by both his immediate and extended families. He is survived by his four sons and their families, as described above. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Theodore Carellas, and Theodore’s family, and the families of his nieces and nephews, through his brother, Richard Skeadas Sherry, his brother-in-law Paraskevas (Peter) Carellas, and his sister-in-law, Jenny Carellas Jeffes.
Eonia i mneme tou, may his memory be eternal.