Nick George Loridas

Nick was born January 31, 1928, to George and Ioulia Loridas in Agrinio, Greece. Nick emigrated to the USA in 1933, at which point his family settled in Detroit MI. Nick attended the elite Detroit Cass Technical High School, with emphasis on Auto Aero Curriculum. Upon graduation in 1946, Nick enlisted into the US Army Air Corps (which later merged into the US Air Force) where he achieved his highest ranking of Sergeant, as well as being decorated with the WW II Victory Medal, and was honorably discharged in 1949. Nick attended Wayne State University in Detroit, MI, where he graduated with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering.

While attending Wayne State University in the 1950’s, Nick became involved in campus social life with fellow Greek students. Through one of his brother John’s best friends, Michael Vintzel, he was introduced to Renee Vintzel, who captured his heart and became the love of his life. Nick and Renee were married on June 14,1958, and they raised their five children in the metro Detroit area. Nick was an exceptional and devoted husband and father, where he always prioritized family. He utilized his engineering talents domestically, where there was no home construction or automotive project that was too complex to tackle. Nick brewed his own wine, and through the years it was all too common for Nick and Renee to host wine and cheese parties frequented by many relatives and close friends. For special events, Nick thrived on cooking lamb Greek-style in a backyard pit, and on occasion, when Greek music was put on, Nick was known to perform the sailors dance with gusto.

Nick spent 28 years of his professional career with the Department of the Army-TACOM (Tank Automotive Command), where he worked in many roles as a multi-disciplined engineer, with P.E. (Professional Engineer) certification in Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, and Industrial engineering. Nick was heavily involved with design, retrofit engineering, product improvement, and testing for the M48/M60 series of tanks. In later years, Nick was a technical expert on the US Army Tank Sales Teams to Egypt and Jordan, involving ranking military authorities of both countries. Upon retirement from the federal government, Nick became an engineering consultant and expert witness, specializing in vehicle accident investigation and reconstruction analysis. When Nick retired for good, he continued to exercise his brilliant mind by studying concepts of theoretical physics, where he was especially enamored with time and space dimensions.

One of Nick’s passions was sailing. Nick and Renee were members of the Detroit Yacht Club for many years where he achieved the rank of Sailboat Captain. He once embarked as a working crew member aboard a 120 ft. Windjammer down the Atlantic seaboard from Maine to Florida. Throughout his later years, Nick and Renee enjoyed cruises throughout the world, which included Australia, Alaska, Tahiti, Europe, Iceland, and a bruising trip around the tip of South America battling 100 foot seas, as well as replicating his childhood voyage cruising across the Atlantic.

After retirement, Nick and Renee moved to Brighton Twp, MI into their custom-built hilltop home, which Nick designed and subcontracted himself, in addition to doing much of the construction work. In 2005, as the Michigan winters never ease up, Nick and Renee sold their dream home and relocated to Sarasota into a beautiful condo with a panoramic view of Sarasota Bay. Nick enjoyed the southern climate, and until he stopped driving at age 97, he and Renee would take a drive almost every day to Anna Maria Island to sit together and soak up the sunshine. In his final years, Nick’s mantra became “every day is a good day” while he maintained his devotion and companionship to Renee until the day he died.

Nick is survived by Renee, his loving wife of 68 years, his children Anne (Michael) Randall, George, Julie (Nick) Stamatakos, Michael (fiancé Stacy), and Ellen (Bob) Fitch, his grandchildren Nick (Taylor), Carlos (Marraiya), Alexander, and Sarah, great grandchildren Calvin and Cataleya, sister in law Vivian (Tom) Constand, as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and friends. Nick was loved and respected by so many people and will be truly missed.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 2nd from 5pm-8pm at Robert Toale & Sons Funeral Home at Memorial Park, 170 Honore Ave, Sarasota FL, with a Trisagion at 7pm.

Services at Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 7671 N Lockwood Ridge Dr, Sarasota FL, on Thursday September 3rd, with visitation at 9:30 – 10: 00am and funeral services following at 10am.

Burial Service will be on Thursday September 3rd at 1pm at Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 St Rd 72, Sarasota FL.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St Barbara Greek Orthodox or any Veterans charity of choice.