Nikola Lambov Dimitrov, Sr.

1930 - 2025

Nikola Lambov Dimitrov Sr., age 94, of Savannah, died Monday, January 27, 2025, at his residence after an extended illness under the care of Hospice Savannah and with his wife by his side. Nick was born on September 19, 1930 in Malki Voden, Bulgaria to Lambov Basharliev and Maria Dimitrov Basharliev. In 1941, his father was pressed into service by the German Army and Nick was too, they dressed him in an oversized uniform, gave him a few hours training with an anti-aircraft gun, and sent him to guard bridges. In March of 1944, an American B-17 was shot down in Vienna, the pilot was Dr. Gene Tanner, Nick who was sixteen at the time, rescued Dr. Tanner from the wreckage, and together with underground resistance fighters made the grueling seventy five day trek through enemy territory to a village in Yugoslavia. When Bulgaria fell under the control of the Soviet Union, Nick fled into the mountains to join the gorilla fighters to fight against the Germans. After fleeing to Greece and surrendering he was sent to a prison camp. When he was released he was sent to Foggia Air Field as a displaced person. He immigrated to the United States in 1952, working with the Ford Motor Company, later the Pennsylvania mines. After learning to speak English well enough, he joined the United States Air Force. He served in the Korean War, he was assigned to Hunter Army Air Field. He found a job in Savannah and taught dance lessons on the side at Arthur Murray Studios. He was a professional ballroom dancer and soccer player. He along with Lieutenant Funk started the first soccer team in Savannah. Many years later he opened his own studio, Dr. Gene Tanner and his wife signed up to take lessons. The two became close friends and knew that each other had been in the military but never exchanged war stories. It wasn't until December of 2011 when Nick sat down at in interview in Dr. Tanner's house and saw a picture of the B-17 plane that he asked Dr. Tanner about the plane. Dr. Tanner talked about being shot down and rescued to which Nick told him that he was the kid who rescued him. Nick was a member of Saint Paul's Greek Orthodox Church and in his spare time he enjoyed gardening, was a professional marksman, and he especially loved working in his yard and garden. Nick was very charismatic, he was a loving husband and father, was bigger than life, spoke six languages and never met a stranger. He is preceded in death by parents; and brother, Dimitar Lambov Basharliev.

His family includes his wife of fifty-eight years, Jeraldine "Jerrie" Dimitrov of Savannah; his son, Nikola Lambov Dimitrov Jr. of Savannah; two nephews; and two great-nieces in Bulgaria.

The family will receive friends Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at Baker McCullough Funeral Home (7415 Hodgson Memorial Drive, Savannah, Georgia 31406.) from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., with a Trisagon service at 6:30 p.m. The funeral service will be Wednesday, February 5, 2025 in the chapel of Baker McCullough Funeral Home at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Glennville at 1:00 p.m.