Nicholas G. Coumanis

Nicholas G. Coumanis, son of the late George N Coumanis and Calliope G Coumanis, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 20, 2026. He was born on July 26, 1929 in Mobile, AL. Nick attended Murphy High School and attended the University of Alabama for one year and was in the Million Dollar Marching Band. His working career started in banking in Mobile where he worked his way up from a “runner.” Because of the ill health of his father, Mr. George, he left banking to work with his father at the Princess House in Mobile. He returned to banking in Fort Walton Beach and headed the auditing department for many years having attended banking classes and then teaching at a Junior College. He retired and moved to Atlanta, GA where he and his wife Mary lived with their son George (JoJo). However, he did not stop working after retirement. Nick was a “host” at the Olive Garden where his “gift for gab” served him well. Entertaining customers was his delight with trivia such as Donald Ducks license plate “313” when it matched their table number. He also enjoyed their Gnocchi soup.

Nicholas was married to his beautiful wife Mary Mellas in 1950. They lived not only in Mobile, but also in Ft. Walton Beach and Atlanta. No matter where they lived, they were involved in the local Greek Orthodox Church as faithful members. He served on the Parish Council, as a chanter, and choir director/organist and they served as co-chairs of Greek festivals. Nicholas was a huge fan of Alabama Football, attended many games with his family in Tuscaloosa and later watched every game on TV. He was the first Greek allowed into a Mobile Mystic Mardi Society, the “Mystics of Time” in which he served as president for their 25th Anniversary in 1973. Everyone that knew Nick loved him and nobody would ever dare go against him in a trivia competition involving classic movies and actors! He always had a sharp mind, witty jokes, and told the best stories. If ever anyone needed to know anything about Historic Mobile, he was the one to ask. He will be sorely missed by all his family and friends. After moving to Virginia, he took on the challenge of remarrying late in life and fulfilled items on his bucket list, and more. He made a “Pascha” trip to Patmos, Greece in 2024 to fulfill his mother’s wish, a trip to New York, NY for the elevation of his second cousin as a Bishop in the Greek Orthodox faith, a trip to Denver, CO for his cousin’s enthronement as Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox faith, a trip to the Metropolitan Opera for his love of music instilled by his father, and a trip to Ellis Island, for his 96th birthday, where his parents entered this country.

Wake and Funeral services will be held at St. Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church in Falls Church, Virginia, 3149 Glen Carylyn Rd, Falls Church, VA 22041 on Thursday, February 26th starting at 10:00am.

Mr. Coumanis is survived by his loving wife, Glenda N. Coumanis of Falls Church, Virginia, a son, Dimitri (Jimmy) Coumanis (wife Karla) of Bay Minette, AL, a step-son, J. Christian, Fritz, III (wife Debbie) of Severna Park, MD and a step-daughter, Anne Fritz Linval (husband, Leopold) of Easton, CT. Jimmy and Karla, gave him two grandchildren and he has two great grandchildren. His five step-grandchildren (5) will miss him greatly having appreciated his hugs, stories and wisdom. He is also survived by his loving sister, Mary C. Foropoulos of Daphne, niece Georgia F. Halstead (husband Mitch), and great niece Mary-Mitchell Halstead of Spanish Fort, AL. He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Mary M Coumanis, and son George “Jojo” N Coumanis. In addition, he had many cousins in the Coumanis, Vrachalus, and Moralis families.

May His Memory Be Eternal…

The Pine Crest Funeral Home in Mobile, AL is handling burial arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to St. Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church in Falls Church, VA, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Mobile, AL, the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation in Atlanta, GA.