Nicholas P. Votze

Nicholas Paul Votze, 97, of Ipswich, passed away begrudgingly but peacefully on Friday, January 24th, surrounded by his loving family and friends. After a brief illness that included hospital stays and rehabilitation, Nick returned home to The Residence at Riverbend in Ipswich, MA, where he had lived for over six years and received a hero's welcome.
Nick, known to many as Papou is survived by his only son; Paul Nicholas Votze and his wife, Janet of Boxford as well as his granddaughters Anna Votze and Emily (Votze) Bial and her husband Bing along with numerous nieces and nephews and a long list of others that loved him.
Born in Chicopee, MA on November 18, 1927, he was the son of the late Paul Peter and Katherine (Manousakis) Votzakis. He was the beloved husband of the late Anne (Frentzos) Votze and was predeceased by his two siblings, James Votzakis and Evangelia L'Annunziata.
As a first-generation Greek American whose parents immigrated from the island of Crete, Nick was proud of his Greek and specifically Cretan roots, spoke fluent Greek and was a devout parishioner of several Greek Orthodox churches. He and his wife Anne were one of the twelve families that founded St. Luke's Church in East Longmeadow and was a member of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church of Ipswich. And as part of America's greatest generation, he endured the struggles of the Great Depression and never forgot where he had come from and the values that he learned as part of a tight immigrant family and community.
Nick entered the US Army at the age of 18 and served in Japan during the occupation from February 1946 until his honorable discharge in August of 1947. Upon his return, he went to Bentley College, receiving a degree in accounting and eventually becoming a CPA.
Nick was married to Anne on June 10, 1951, in Springfield. For the next 67 years, they never stopped caring for each other and were inseparable until Anne's passing in 2019. A true love story. Their loyalty and devotion to each other and to their family was a model to many. In 2001, Anne and Nick uprooted their lives in East Longmeadow to move closer to their son Paul's family. They always said it was the most important and best decision of their lives.
Nick worked for many years as a data processing manager while also offering tax services. In 1968, he founded the NP Votze Company, merging his accounting expertise with the sale of paper and promotional products. Self-employment allowed him the flexibility to pursue his passions for family, church, and charity. Nick coached youth baseball and football for many years. He and his wife Anne loved to attend any events where their child or grandchildren participated. In Paul's ten-year football career, Nick missed only one as he was the best man at a wedding. He created a charitable outreach program through his church that provided meals to over fifty families in need during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays for over a decade before moving to Ipswich. He was also a devoted supporter of Paul's Pan Mass Challenge rides, contributing generously each year.
Nick had an incredibly unique way of engaging and connecting with people of all ages. He always had a story to tell or a Greek expression to relay which usually originated from his father or mother whom he adored. His loyalty and compassion for all around him was fierce and his memory of events or people astounding. His later years at Riverbend were filled with connecting with both the residents and the staff. In the summers of 2022 and 2023 at the age of 94 and 95, he traveled to Crete with his family to visit the villages of his mother and father, immersing himself in the culture he cherished. Nick loved life and tried to live every day to the fullest. He fought like a warrior and will always be a "legend" to those who knew him.
Papou will be dearly missed, but his legacy of kindness, dedication, and love will continue to inspire all who knew him. "May his memory be eternal."
His funeral service will be celebrated at Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Greek Orthodox Church, 8 Lafayette Road, Ipswich, on Friday, January 31st at 11am. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting Hours at the Campbell Funeral Home, 6 High Street, Ipswich, on Thursday, January 30th from 4pm to 7pm. Burial will be at Cowles Memorial Cemetery, Ipswich. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in his honor either to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church or to the PAN-MASS Challenge, (donate.pmc.org/PV0030) as a tribute to Nicholas P. Votze. Information, directions, condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com.