Nikolaos Kerasiotis

Nick Kerasiotis passed away peacefully in his home on the morning of May 31st with family by his side. He left us after fighting a difficult and admirable second battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Effie, sons Yianni (Emma) and Petro and granddaughter Ione.

Nick was born on June 17th, 1950 in the small Greek village of Prokopi. He moved to Canada in his early twenties in the hopes of starting a family and providing the best possible life for them. He immediately started working tirelessly at his family’s restaurant, Olympia Pizza. It was there that he met Effie and the greatest joys of his life began. Their romance would turn into a lifelong commitment to one another that was inspiring to watch. They wed soon after and had two sons. Of the many jobs he would go on to have, being a father was his favourite. It was also during this time that Nick became a dominant force in the Vancouver Entertainment District, running the iconic Luvafair and Graceland nightclubs. He met countless famous faces and left a lasting impression on every patron. Recounting memories from those nights always put a smile on his face. Later on, Nick opened a restaurant with his sons called Nammos Estiatorio. This achieved his two lifelong goals: bringing authentic Greek culture to Vancouver and providing a solid future for his children. Just recently, Nick became a grandfather. This new role brought him great pride and happiness in his final days.

Along the way, Nick created opportunities for so many people and truly changed lives. It wasn’t uncommon for employees from decades prior to approach him and express their gratitude. Whenever he walked into a room, he either knew someone or was about to get to know someone. He could make anyone laugh. He was warm, generous and easy going. For these reasons and so many more, he spent his life surrounded by friends and loved ones. His loss will be felt deeply and his legacy will live on forever.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be sent to St. George’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

Please copy and paste this link to donate:

https://helleniccommunity.org/donate/

The money will go towards creating an icon of Nick’s patron saint in his memory. The funeral will be private due to Covid restrictions.