Nick was born on December 27, 1944 in Margarites, Greece to Frank & Eleni Skarpathiotis. He was the second youngest of 5 children: Dionisia, George, Maria, and Diamanta. In his younger years, he worked helping his mother in the family fields with their crops on the Island of Crete. Around the age of 16, Nick traveled to Athens and lived with his sister, Maria, for a couple of years. At 18, he went to the Greek Army serving for 2 years. In 1966, he went and started working in the engine room of a ship for an international shipping company with his brother-in-law, George, and with that, Nick traveled around the world.
In the spring of 1972, he traveled from Greece to America stopping in New York and began work as a car mechanic. He had many friends [and some enemies] all along the eastern seaboard and was loved by many while working there. Later on, he traveled to California where he met his future wife and they started a family. Nick continued working as a mechanic at Saffari’s Automotive in Northridge working for Robert Saffari and Art Bilbaso. They became more like family with Nick being the butt of most jokes due to his broken English.
Nick enjoyed gardening. He loved giving away the fruits of his labor to just about everyone including the fast food employees where he ate at during his years as a mechanic. His fruits and vegetables were always larger than normal with all the “love” he gave to them. Sometimes so large, the plants overtook the space in his yard.
He also enjoyed old-time comedies like I Love Lucy and The Three Stooges. Laughing so hard sometimes, he would be crying. No matter what channel they were played on, Nick would find them and watch them for hours.
He was a sweet, generous, and loving man who will truly be missed.
He is survived by his two children Constantine (Costa) and Eleni. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends spanning from California to New York and Greece.
Due to COVID, a Trisagion will not be held. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 15, 2020 at Oakwood Memorial Cemetery in Chatsworth, CA at 10am.
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