Nicholas Bazoukas

Nicholas K. Bazoukas

WORCESTER - My husband, Attorney Nicholas K. Bazoukas (Nick) was a remarkable man, an unsung hero in many ways. He was one of those people you at first might overlook. His parents were Greek immigrants. He learned how to speak English at Worcester's public schools. Despite his education, there still were times he misspoke the English language. He was a little chubby. Opposing attorneys could initially underestimate Nick but they quickly learned not to discount him. He had a keen intelligence, a sharp legal and political mind, and a strong sense of justice and fairness which he brought to every aspect of his life.

He loved the law and being an attorney, loved being Greek and his Greek heritage, loved helping his community and his church, loved his family and friends. He had an exuberant love of life and music and a roaring laugh. He loved politics, too.

As an attorney, he served under District Attorney John Conte for 28 years, variously as head Assistant District Attorney of the Westboro Court, Fitchburg Court and Worcester's Six-man Jury, and in other roles. When Nick and I started dating, I asked him once if he believed there were truly evil people in the world. As a then ADA, he said he had seen enough to know there were people beyond redemption and deserved all the law had to give them. But he also knew that for many people, the letter of the law was not the same as justice. He brought that wisdom to work every day.

He understood the law and the legal system can tilt away from those who do not have the resources to pay for high-priced representation. When he went into private practice twenty years ago, he chose largely not to charge the going rates. If you walked into his office, he helped you. He freely gave his legal advice and assistance to those who needed it. He knew poor people, people whose first language was not English, might not get good representation, so he worked to make sure that all his clients got excellent representation.

Nick was a social worker at heart. In many ways, he was a lawyer version of George Bailey from It's a Wonderful Life. He loved being in private practice because he could help clients reform their lives. Like George Bailey, he didn't get rich, but also like George Bailey, he made the world a better place.

His love of music was well-known. He was quite the impresario in his early years. He worked with local colleges and universities in the 70's to bring acts like James Taylor and Tom Rush to Worcester college stages. He also served on the Worcester First Night board for fifteen years. Throughout his life he attended concerts to hear as much live music as he could. His knowledge of music was encyclopedic, his love of music endless.

He loved politics, especially the notion that your vote matters, that who you elect matters. As such, he was a skilled political operative, worked on many political campaigns, helped a lot of people get elected. His political advice was sought after and prized. He knew how to get things done. If you were from out of town, you talked to Nick to get the lay of the political land.

Here's a story typical of many Nick stories: in the 1975, Jimmy Carter was in Massachusetts campaigning in the primary for the presidency. Nick was asked to bring Jimmy Carter and his secret servicemen to a Worcester locale where Jimmy could meet lots of people. Nick took Jimmy to Spag's. On Saturday.

Jimmy, Nick and the secret servicemen went through Spag's meeting people. Jimmy was delighted. However, when they all exited Spag's, one of the secret servicemen grabbed Nick and picked him up off the ground by his shirt, looked him in the eye, and said, "Never do that again." Nick had a sense of humor, did what he thought was right, and took the consequences.

Nick's faith and love of his church formed his character. As his health declined, he couldn't make it to church, but his faith was with him every day. He served as St. Spyridon's parish council president for many years, chaired five Greek festivals, including the highest (adjusted) grossing festival of all time. We thank Fr. Chris for coming to the house to give Nick communion and guidance.

In the past several months, Nick experienced an ever-cascading series of unexpected health problems-treatable colon cancer, life threatening anemia, an emerging ulcer. Then, acute damage to his kidneys from meds meant to help the ulcer which led to end stage kidney disease. Then, his heart in two months and without a diagnosable cause went from normal function into end stage heart failure. People typically get these ailments gradually, and they worsen over years. For Nick, it was just months. He took hit after hit of illness and increasing disability with grace and a determination to keep going. I have never known anyone so brave.

Many thanks to his UMass Medical cardiac providers, and to all his providers. They gave him outstanding care.

Nick is survived by me, his wife, Mardi. He loved me, loved being married and all that being married meant-- he loved having a dog, a garden, and sitting on the front porch of our house. Nick also is survived by his brother John, a faithful visitor throughout his illness; his uncle and his wife; his sister-in-law; his niece, her husband and their two sons; his nephew; his cousin and his cousin's daughters; and by my family members. Many thanks to his family for last week's birthday. He loved it.

I always had thought that having someone you love get sick over a period of time and then die, you would have time to prepare, to say good-bye. That was not the case for Nick and me. I was convinced until the moment Nick died that he would get up and say to me, "Let's get out of here." Because that is who Nick was.

In closing, I want to express many, many thanks to the friends and colleagues who supported Nick and helped him as his life wound down, and who continue to help him now. Friends, please know that you made his death easier.

You can honor Nick's life by listening to music, and by doing what is right when it is hard or inconvenient to do so. Nick would like that.

Athy Memorial Home is directing Nick's funeral. Calling hours are 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 16, at Athy's, 111 Lancaster St, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01609.

Funeral services will be held Monday, September 20, at 11 a.m., Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 102 Russell St, Worcester, MA 01609.

Please consider donating to St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral as another way to honor my husband, Attorney Nicholas K. Bazoukas-a remarkable man.

To leave a message of sympathy online, please visit www.legacy.com.