Obituary of Peter J. Nichols

Peter Nichols, born Panagiotis Hatzinikolis, died on Wednesday, January 20 in Manhasset, N.Y. at age 94. He was born in Karistos, Greece on February 10, 1926, growing up alongside his loving parents and two older brothers, Christos and Evangelos. After World War II, he served as a ship’s engineer in the Greek Navy and in the merchant marine. He emigrated to the United States in the early 1950s. Peter married Christine Caracosta in New York in 1957; they had one daughter, Maria. He worked as a florist for many years, creating flower arrangements for all occasions and managing a successful flower shop in Queens. He also briefly owned and operated the Hempstead Townhouse, a diner in Long Island. Peter and his family lived in Flushing, Queens for many years, later moving to Manhasset to be closer to Maria, to his son-in-law Peter Dedousis, and to his two grandsons, Anthony and Demitri. Friends and neighbors recognized Peter for his gentlemanly demeanor and his natural kindness. Peter possessed a youthful enthusiasm for working with tools, building, repairing, and tinkering at every opportunity. He acted as an “amateur contractor” when Peter and Maria had a new room built on their home, and he built a toolshed from the ground up with the assistance of his grandson Demitri. Despite being strongly advised not to, he would climb on ladders to make repairs well into his eighties. Peter maintained strong ties with his home country, visiting Greece for several weeks most summers and reconnecting with family and childhood friends. He enjoyed gardening, watching Jeopardy! and New York Knicks games, and spending time with his grandsons, of whom he was immensely proud. His family loved him very much, and is thankful for his long and remarkable life.