Passed away peacefully at Mount Sinai Hospital on Monday July 26, 2021. Loving husband of Sophia for 63 years. Devoted father to Peter (Rita) & Tom. Nicholas was proud Pappou of Nicholas, Nicole, Alexander, Olivia & Maria. He will be missed by many extended family & friends here & abroad.

By every measure, ‘Nick’ was a good and decent man. His life story is not unlike that of many immigrants from Greece who came here to Canada in the 1950’s for an opportunity for a better life. He was the eldest of five sons born to Panayioti and Asimo, in the small village of Chranoi, in the region of Arcadia. A mountainous and harsh region of Greece where life for simple farmers was not easy, particularly through times of war, much economic and political upheaval, to say nothing of the challenges faced by all farmers who operate at the mercy of the elements, but also including devastating earthquakes in this part of the world. The trip to the hillside fields by donkey or mule was a laborious forty-five minutes on well worn paths along treacherous mountainside. There they would tend to the farm plots of various crops including okre, green beans, eggplants, and tomatoes among other. They also had fields of olive and fig trees to collect the fruit which they sold as a cash crop. The farmers had prearranged watering times where they would divert the cold, clear water that sprung from the deep-water spring, called St. Nicholas, to sustain the life of their labour. Of course, they also had a scattering of the requisite goats, chickens, and sheep. The life was harsh, but his life was not unlike that of so many others in those times, in that part of the world. What they lacked in material possessions they made up for with the love that comes to a close-knit family that toils together and relies on one another to overcome difficult circumstances. The Church and their faith were a very important part of his upbringing where Asimo ensured a dutiful following of the Orthodox Christian teachings and where Panayioti served as the village cantor to assist the Priest in the church services and liturgies. Even in his later years, many remarked on the beautiful voice that Panayioti had; something Nick too would also be blessed with.

Asimo would say of her eldest son, that his teacher often remarked that Nick was the smartest student in his class; he particularly excelled at mathematics. Even in his later years Nick was able to compute the addition, subtraction, and multiplication of many complex numbers all in his head. That said, the economic reality being what it was, he was only able to finish grade school. At the age of 14 years, Nick left the village to go to Athens to work in the restaurant that an uncle owned.

Nick was lodged in a very small space above the restaurant. The bulk of the money he made he sent back to the village to financially assist his parents and younger brothers. The work was difficult, and the hours long – but true to his character, he endured these things without complaint, considering himself fortunate to have been given this opportunity. Nick was a lifelong, voracious reader. Part of his meagre income he used to purchase books to read to learn more about the world around him. He enjoyed reading about the ancient Greek philosophers, history, and nature. His other joy - he bought a violin and he self-taught himself to play. Over the years, he graduated from kitchen help to waiter, to cook – soon learning every facet of running a restaurant. A skill that served him well in later years.

In 1955, at the age of 28, Nick decided that he wanted to take a chance to pursue a better life for himself. Knowing no one, and certainly without the benefit of a sponsor, he took the gamble of travelling to the far-off country of Canada for the hope of a better future. A decision he eternally thanked God for giving him the courage and wisdom to make. He arrived by ship arriving in Halifax quite literally with the clothes on his back and a small bag with his other worldly possessions. He obtained employment for a short while there as a hospital orderly, before moving to Delhi, Ontario. Here he worked as a farm labourer, picking tobacco. Soon after, he relocated to Toronto where he gained employment working alongside other Greeks at a restaurant in Union Station. In time, he sponsored the arrival of his brothers John and Tom to Canada.

As is only natural when residing in a foreign land, one looks to gain acquaintances with others with a similar cultural background. The Greek community in Toronto in those years was bustling and growing in numbers. Nick was very much an outgoing and social person who enjoyed attending dances, festivals and other church sponsored activities. These events fostered a closeness within the community and helped them to preserve the customs and traditions of the far away homeland that they left behind. It was through one such event that Nick came to know an also relatively recent arrival - Tassos Poulos; older brother to Sophia. In time he also got to know the other brothers, Kosta (Gus) and Nick. Having passed the initial “pre-screening”, as was the tradition, the formal introduction to Sophia was arranged. When Sophia was later asked what she thought about this young gentleman from Chranoi, she simply responded, “If he will have me, I will have him.” And so it began. Nick and Sophia were wed at St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church, Toronto, on May 10, 1958.

In time, Nick and Sophia were blessed with a family; first with the birth of Peter and then Tom. Nick was very much a ‘people person’. Working in the restaurant industry, Nick began to explore his dream of one day owning a restaurant of his own. As fortune would have it, one glorious summer afternoon he strolled through Yorkville, and was taken by its charm. He said the little shops and boutiques reminded him of Athens, and it was in this area of downtown Toronto that he elected to venture into the restaurant business.

He began with a little basement restaurant on Cumberland Avenue called Nick’s Luncheonette. Within a matter of a few years, he progressed to owning, along with his brother Tom, a significantly larger restaurant on Yorkville Avenue. Anyone that knows anything about family run restaurants, knows that it is very much a family affair. The wives, kids and assorted extended family members were all recruited to work in various capacities to help the business thrive and succeed.

Suffice it to say, that within a very few years, Greek Town Dining Room became the go-to spot for the chic chic crowd. It was not uncommon for large groups to gather regularly and for prolonged hours to wine and dine on the outdoor patio, while taking in all the happenings of a then blossoming Yorkville. It was not uncommon for celebrities to be spotted at Greek Town along with tourists and regular folk. Nothing gave Nick greater joy than to ensure that all who visited his restaurant were greeted personally and warmly by him. He did everything he could to ensure that each customer who happened upon his restaurant, enjoyed a wonderful meal of Greek food, with a background of joyful Greek music and usually with a smile and a humorous story or two to share.

In time, Yorkville changed and with it, Greek Town became no more. With the ever-present business acumen of someone much more schooled, Nick had acquired a property on Scollard Street which became Scollard Deli. Scollard Deli operates to this day, having been taken over by son Tom. For years after, Nick would lament, “if I only bought 3 or 4 more properties on this street back when, I would now be retired a wealthy man”.

As the years passed, Nick and Sophia were blessed with many grandchildren. Nothing gave Nick more joy than to see his family grow and to spend time with his family, but especially his grandchildren. He treasured the time he spent with them at Christmas, Easter, the many birthday celebrations and so on. To him they were each a unique gift, and the product of the love story he began together with Sophia so many years before; to them, he was quite simply, Pappou.

In more recent years, while physically Nick remained quite vigorous for his age, he was afflicted with dementia and suffered with significant cognitive decline as a result. Sophia, the ever-loving wife, attended to his every need at their home until the physical demands became such that she could no more. The last three years of his life,

Nick was living at The Hellenic Home For the Aged, where he was well cared for around the clock as he required. Even in these difficult circumstances, the family was always near-by his side. Up until his final days, Sophia would visit him every-second day at the home, relishing the memories that she would share with him and the smile or laugh it would sometimes garner. For a man who selflessly gave of himself his entire life, it was only fitting that in his final years of need he not want for anything and that all his earthly needs were attended to with the great love and compassion that he so deserved.

You will be sorrowfully missed by too many to know whose life you have made all the better for your being a part of it. May God rest your soul and provide to you the peace and tranquility of Eternal Life.

A private visitation will be held at Turner & Porter Yorke Chapel 2357 Bloor St. W., (at Windermere, east of the Jane Subway) on Thursday July 29, 2021 from 6-8 p.m. For those who wish to attend the visitation please R.S.V.P to p.stavropoulos@rogers.com or at 519-570-6160 . Please also state the intended time you wish to attend the visitation. Funeral Rite will take place at Annunciation of The Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Cathedral (136 Sorauren Avenue)., on Friday July 30, 2021 at 11am.
Burial to follow at Parklawn Cemetery.

COVID 19 protocol will be in place.

In lieu of flowers, and for those who wish, donations may be made to the Hellenic Home for the Aged. Online condolences available at www.turnerporter.ca