Nicholas Louis Mandrapilias

SHREVEPORT, LA - A Service Honoring the life of Nicholas Louis Mandrapilias, 92, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 20, 2018, at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, with Father Ioannis Krokos officiating. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery, Shreveport, LA. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Friday, January 19, 2018, at Rose- Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall Street, Shreveport, LA. Nicholas was born December 9, 1925, in Lewiston, Maine, to Louis Nicholas Mandrapilias and Stavroula Mandrapilias and passed away January 18, 2018. At the age of 7, his family returned to Athens, Greece, and in later years when he was attending the University of Athens, Greece, he was drafted by the U. S. Army and sent to Ft. Polk, LA where he was placed in field artillery. It was at this time that he drove up to Shreveport, LA, to attend an event at St. George Greek Orthodox Church where he met his wife, Aspasia Theo, of 69 years. Nick was a devoted member of St George Greek Orthodox Church where he served in many capacities, and a member of W. Booth Lodge, Scottish Rite, AHEPA Chapter 8, and numerous other community organizations. My Grandfather; Louis Nicholas Mandrapilias and his wife Stavroula, came to the US from Athens Greece to Lewiston Maine to start the New England Tobacco Co. After a success in just 7 years; they sold the business and moved the family back to Greece. My father, born in US consequently had dual citizenship in US and Greece where he maintained his family's estate and now will pass to his children. He was predeceased by his brother Alexander Mandrapilias during the German occupancy of Greece at age 9, and then as a young boy Nick befriended the Germans to gain access to the Troops movements to benefit the Greek Gorilla soldiers what he had learned. His father had moved his family to Mani, Greece, to protect them from this war but in spite of, lost Alexander. Nick was proud of his Maniatis heritage. His sister predeceased him, Sophia Mandrapilias from Malaria at age 5. At age 15 Nicholas' parents sent him to live with Louis and Philanthy Constantine in Portland, Maine, where he continued his education to protect him from the ongoing war in Europe. After the war he returned back to Greece and while attending the University of Athens was notified to report to the US Army due to his US citizenship. With his broken English he reported for duty and began boot camp at Ft Polk LA. During his tenure with Equitable Life Assurance Society he was able to give and nurture to all who crossed his path and his greatest attribute and legacy will be his generous spirit and kindness that he extended to anyone and everyone who crossed his path. Nick knew no strangers and his spirit will live on through those of us who will continue to exhibit his love. Nick had a love of the restaurant business, beginning with his own Nick's Drive-In, and worked closely with Ernest Palmisano, Sr. as well as Ernest, Jr. He will be missed by all. His family wishes to thank the following doctors and caregivers who so tenderly cared for Nick during these last years; Dr. Dan Moller, Dr. Richard Zweig, Linda, Haley, Lesbia, and Rae. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Aspasia Theo Mandrapilias; his children, Louis Nicholas Mandrapilias of Los Angeles, CA, Laura Mandrapilias FitzGerald and husband Tim FitzGerald of Shreveport, LA, Sophia Mandrapilias Winter and husband John Winter of Loveland, CO; grandchildren, Miles FitzGerald, Mary Collins FitzGerald Krantz and husband Ben Krantz of Brooklyn, NY, Nicholas Conner FitzGerald of San Diego, CA, Geoffrey Addison Winter and Faith Constance Winter both of Salt Lake City, UT; his beloved sister, Mary Ilias Mandrapilias of Athens, Greece; brother-in-law, Andrew Theo and his wife Koula of Houston, TX; and a host of other relatives and friends. Honoring Nick as pallbearers will be his grandsons and close family, Miles FitzGerald, Nicholas Conner FitzGerald, Geoffrey Addison Winter, Ben Krantz, Christopher Booras and Matthew Solice. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Ernest Palmisano, Jr., David Lester, George Karageorge, and David Massey. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations may be made to Saint George Greek Orthodox Church, 1719 Creswell Ave., Shreveport, LA 71101, YMCA Northwest Louisiana, ATTN: Miles FitzGerald Pool, 3455 Knight St., Shreveport, LA 71105.