George Nick Nicolopoulos

Mr. Nicolopoulos, 88, of Charlotte, NC died Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at Atrium Pineville Hospital. George, the son of the late Nick and Sofia (nee Tsihlis) Nicolopoulos, was born in Loggastra, Lakonias, Greece. He went to school in Sparti, Greece and later owned and operated a kafenio with his brother there. He eloped with his sweetheart, Pitsa, when she was 16 years old and they married soon thereafter in Sparti, Greece. They made their home in Sparti where they expanded their family to include their daughter. In 1968, he came to Charlotte and began working in the restaurant business. His wife and their daughter came to Charlotte to join him eleven months later.

During his time in the restaurant business as a cook, he learned to cook fast food at the South 21 Drive-in Restaurants and to cook good southern food, as well as make pizza from scratch, at Liberty East Restaurant. He went on to work at numerous Greek owned restaurants in the Charlotte area including helping several from opening day to develop their customer base. His family, friends and customers especially loved his lasagna and meatloaf. He was no stranger to hard work and he enjoyed learning to do new things. As a young adult, he learned to be a beekeeper when a neighbor in the village gave him a hive. By the time he left for America, he had 20. He was also a mechanic in the Greek Air Force. His beloved hobby was gardening. 

Most will remember George for always making people smile and laugh. He was one of those people who never met a stranger and enjoyed getting to know those he met.

Mr. Nicolopoulos was preceded in death earlier this year by his wife of 60 years Pitsa Nicolopoulos . He was also preceded in death by his parents, his sister Toula Marangou and her husband Evangelos and by his sister-in-law Hrisoula Nicolopoulos.

Survivors include his daughter Sofia Nicolopoulos, his brother Dimitrios Nicolopoulos, his sister Maria Kolovou (Ioannis), his sister Panagiota Giorganai (Ioannis), his brother Konstantinos Nicolopoulos (Demetra), and his brother Ioannis Nicolopoulos (Anna) along with several aunts, cousins, many nieces and nephews, and their families.

Mr. Nicolopoulos was a member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral for many years. He then became a long time member of St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church.

The family wants to thank Dr. Zeitouni and the nurses and staff who gave such excellent, loving care to Mr. Nicolopoulos during his time at Atrium Pineville. They would also like to thank Dr. Peter Copsis for the excellent care he provided to him over the many years as his Primary Care Physician.

Visitation will take place on Monday, September 18th at 10am at St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church, 5108 Kuykendall Rd, Charlotte with the funeral service to follow at 11am. Burial will follow at Evergreen City Cemetery, Charlotte.

Memorials in memory of Mr. Nicolopoulos may be made to St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church, 5108 Kuykendall Rd, Charlotte, NC 28270 with a designation that it is for the Building Fund.

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