Nicholis Gatanis

Nicholis Gatanis, 95, passed away peacefully on May 12, 2023 in Fredericksburg, VA.

Nick was born in Penns Grove, NJ on June 4th, 1927 to Harry Gatanis, Sr. and his wife Mary. Nick was the seventh child of 12 siblings. He is pre-deceased by brother Thomas, brother Theodore, brother Harry, Jr., sister Rose, sister Katherine, sister Florence, sister Dorothy, sister Mary, and brother Paul; and survived by brothers Robert and Richard.

Nicholis Gatanis lived a long, experienced and fulfilling life. He grew up during the Great Depression in New Jersey and New York City and served in the military with the Navy on the USS Princeton from 1944-1946. After his service and looking "to make it big", he headed to Florida with his brother Harry and that's where he met his love Comella Louise "Middie" (Bryant) where she was working at a shoe store in Miami, Florida.

On December 17, 1949 Nick married Middie and eventually had eight loving children Kathryn, Nicholis Jr. (deceased), Elizabeth, Robert (Teri), Paul (Wendy), Helen Beaulieu (Mike), Donald (Jane), and Douglas (Jennifer). He is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Building a life and family in Florida, Nick worked as a linotype operator for the Miami Daily News, The Daily Racing Form, and the St. Petersburg Times. He also served as the President of the Florida chapter of the International Typographical Union. He eventually started his own business, East Tampa Clerical, a tax, printing and clerical business in Tampa, Florida and proudly served his customers for over 35 years.

Nick was a lifelong Democrat, loved his Greek family heritage, enjoyed reading a "good newspaper", and was fond of books about religion and politics. He also had a passion for golf and driving trips, and with his wife of 62 years in the passenger seat they logged over 20 thousand miles visiting 40 states. Legend has it that there are 40 golf balls with his name on it shanked to the right of various locations along the highways of each state he visited. Nick was also actively involved in his church community and loved to teach Sunday School classes with his own unique takes on bible stories.

We loved our father deeply and know that he will be happy to be reunited with our mother.

A memorial service will be held at Riverview United Methodist Church in Florida at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his honor to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.