Nicholas S. Sperounis
One of the original "Ironmen"; 92
Lowell Nicholas S. "Nick" Sperounis died Sunday September 21, 2008 at Lowell General Hospital after a brief illness, aged 92 years. A resident of Dracut. Beloved husband of Mary (Angelus) Sperounis for over 66 years.
He was born in Lowell, June 23, 1916 the son of the late Kostas and Ioanna (Anninos) Sperounis. He resided most of his life in Dracut were he received his early education, graduating from Dracut High School with the Class of 1937. Nick attended Providence College on an athletic scholarship in the late 1930's.
Mr. Sperounis was well known as being one of the "Ironmen" of Dracut High School football in 1936 were he played both offense and defense and in one particular game on Saturday October 31, in which Dracut played two consecutive games he scored two of Dracut's three touchdowns in one and played outstanding in the other game, never leaving the game for the sidelines. It was an unbelievable feat that was featured in a story by Ripley's "Believe It or Not". This earned him the title of one of Dracut's "Ironmen".
He was a WW II Army Air Corps veteran, stationed in the South Pacific Arena and received a Bronze Star for combat in that region.
Upon his return home, he opened the Tremont Café in Lowell were he was the proprietor and operator for many years.
Mr. Sperounis was a member of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Lowell and also held memberships at the Lowell YMCA, Lowell Boys Club and was a 32nd Degree Mason with Kilwinning Lodge A.F. & A.M. in Lowell also the Alleppo Temple Shrine of Wilmington, Ma. Nick was a member of the Square Knights of the Round Table who met at the Speare House Restaurant once a month.
He was an avid outdoorsman, loved gardening, a voracious reader of poetry and non-fictional novels. Nick and his wife Mary made several trips to Greece as part of their love of travel and was a fan of the Red Sox and Celtics.
Besides his wife he is survived by a daughter, Joahanna M. Sousa and her husband Ronald J. of Hudson NH. A son, Michael J. Sperounis and his wife Susan E (Oaks) of Lawrenceville, GA. A sister, Mary Barton of Little Silver, NJ. Three Grandchildren; Christopher R. Sousa of Hudson, NH, Nicholas O. and Alexandra E. Sperounis both of Lawrenceville, GA. Several nieces and nephews and many dear friends. Father of the late Charles A. Sperounis who died in 1995. Brother of the late Rebecca Sperounis, Vinus Meyer and Didi Gatopoulos.
SPEROUNIS Died September 21, 2008 at Lowell General Hospital. Nicholas S. "Nick" Sperounis, aged 92 years. Husband of Mary (Angelus) Sperounis. A WWII Army Air Corps Veteran. Longtime Dracut resident. Friends will be received at the MORSE-BAYLISS FUNERAL HOME, 122 Princeton Blvd. at Chester and Harvard Streets on Wednesday from 4 PM to 8 PM. Funeral from the funeral home on Thursday at 9:00 AM followed by a Service at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Lowell at 10:00 AM, relatives and friends invited. Interment in Westlawn Cemetery, Lowell.
www.morsebaylissfuneralhome.com.
Published by Lowell Sun on Sep. 23, 2008.