Nikolaos Petsagourakis

Nikolaos Petsagourakis, 77, ascended into eternal life on Sunday, May 21, 2023, after a long bout with lung cancer.

Born in Crete, Greece, to John and Despina, Nick’s pride in his family and his Greek heritage was palpable. His family jokes that the only cultural attribute embellished by the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” was the use of Windex as a skin ointment. Niko was easily recognizable by his booming voice and his thick Super Mario-like handlebar mustache. So hardy was his ‘stache that even chemotherapy had no effect on its fullness.

A mason by trade in Greece, Nick immigrated to the United States in 1962 as a Merchant Marine and transitioned to the restaurant business. He ultimately became a chef and operated his own restaurants, including Nick’s Place in Denville and the snack bar at Hanover Lanes bowling alley. Later, Nick worked for his pre-deceased brother Stelio (wife Vaso and children John and Despina) at Pythagoras Construction, completing several large projects in New York City. Never shy to an honest day’s labor, even in semi-retirement, Nick often could be found substituting in the kitchens of his friends’ diners around northwest New Jersey.

In 1976, Nick met his surviving wife Dorothy (nee Slater), then a waitress at the Skyway Diner in Kearny. Their union produced two loving, surviving daughters Laura Wagner (husband Timothy) of Denville and Despina Rossi (husband Michael) of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, and five grandchildren who bear his likeness Anthony, Calvin and Sophie; and Julia and John. Nick and Dot raised their girls mostly in Parsippany and Blairstown, New Jersey.

In his later years, the couple relocated to Loris, South Carolina, where they strolled the beach almost daily.

Niko is also survived by his loving family in Greece, including sister Georgia Kachramani (husband Gergio), brother Mihali Petsagourakis (wife Chrisoula), and nieces and nephews Lefteris, Polina and Katerina; and Yianni and Maria. Nick was predeceased by his stepmother Maria Petsagourakis. In New Jersey, he is remembered fondly by his brothers-in-law Harry, James and David Slater.

A memorial service will be held for Nick on Thursday, May 25, at 6 p.m., at the Global Baptist Church, 6079 SC-66, Loris, S.C. 29569.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Nick’s name to the American Cancer Society at https://donate.cancer.org.

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