Nicholas Kayafas

KAYAFAS, Nicholas of Largo passed away on Tuesday, March 28, 2017. Nicholas was born on May 6, 1931 in New Kensington, Pennsylvania to Mary and Steve Kayafas. He was the second oldest of four rambunctious boys. The family lived above a grocery store that they owned and operated and during the depression gave food to the hungry. His parents, Mary and Steve, instilled in Nick an amazing work ethic, humor, warmth and toughness.

Nicholas graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Upon graduation, he served in the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant, and was stationed in Germany during the Korean War.

While in Germany, he proposed to his future wife Helen (Herouvis) Kayafas over the phone, as he could not wait to do so in person. Nickolas knew Helen from childhood, as he went with his family to visit his cousins, the Chibises in Akron, Ohio who lived next to Helen’s parents. Helen and Nicholas were married on July 7, 1956.

They had one child, a daughter named Stephanie. They made their home initially in Pennsylvania, and to Indiana, New Jersey and Illinois as a result of corporate transfers before his retiring to Florida.

Nicholas was a man of extraordinary intellect, talent and energy. While living in Indiana he traveled to the University of Pittsburgh to complete his Master’s in Business Administration. His professional career was spent as the manager of Industrial Safety and Hygiene for G.A.T.X. Corporation in North America and the German Division. He obtained a real estate sales license early on and always sold real estate on the side. Even after his retirement from the industry. Nick was an avid oil painter, a published author, a wine maker, a reader and a fisherman. He played the drums and played in the band “Two Aces and a Duce” and he could make an awesome breakfast.

Nick and Helen always had fun and enjoyed entertaining, road trips with friends and family and even danced a mean jitter bug in the living room, much to the delight of young Stephanie who loved to watch from the big living room chair and clap to the music.

They loved going to New York City to see plays, eat at restaurants and visit museums. They loved life and did not spend a lot of time sitting.

When Nick and Helen finally retired to Largo, FL he wasn’t fully retired. Nick was a consultant in his field for different companies and gradually focused on selling commercial real estate. He published three books: “Why Not Write a Little Poetry,” Employee Health and Industrial Hygiene,” and “Welcome to the Poverty Class.” He had completed the first draft of providing insight into the disease Alzeihmers.

Nick was preceded in death by his parents Mary and Steve Kayafas, wife Helen Kayafas, his brothers Michael Kayafas and Steve George Kayafas. He is survived by a brother Icaros Kayafas, his daughter Stephanie Kayafas and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was an extraordinary man and will be missed by many.

A visitation will be on Monday, 4/3/17 from 10 to 11 am with the funeral service at 11 am all at Serenity Funeral Home, Largo, FL. Interment will be in Serenity Gardens Memorial Park, Largo, FL. Condolences may be offered at www.serenityfuneralhomelargo.com.

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