Obituary for Nicolas Kordellas, 5-1-1935 to 1-5-2021
(Written by Shirley, with some memory help by Phil, Nick's son)
Photo of Nick 2011
Nick was born 1 May 1935 in Athens, Greece. Nick always felt all Europe
celebrated his birthday as May Day.
Nick was an only child raised in Athens, just below the Northern side of the
Acropolis. The family spent the summers on their farm at Krea Varsi on Eubia.
The farm during the WW2 was their base all year, from which they sent food to
relatives in Athens, who were starving.
From an early age he was always interested in making childhood inventions,
ranging from tinkering with tractors and bikes to training farm animals on their
farm.
On finishing Grade 12, Nick received a Physics scholarship to study abroad.
He was about 18 when he arrived in Ottawa to improve his English at Carleton
College (1953). Nick then entered University of Toronto in Engineering, where
obtained his degree. He was doing his Masters at George Washington
University. Nick worked at many jobs, some were in Wellington and Montreal
such as Union Carbide, SNC Lavalin in Montreal and Edmonton.
Nick married Mary Allan, a registered nurse, in 1962. They had a son, Philip,
born in 1965 In Montreal. Due to the Quebec desire for separation, Nick and
Mary acquired a cabin in Alexandria, Ontario. Nick was at a Party with Andre
Leveque Who told Nick “You are a nice guy but you are not Quebecois and you
have no place here”. Mary died in her sleep from a subdural hematoma in 1970.
She is buried in Mount Royal Cemetery in Montreal. Nick was in a state of
shock and took a year to get his and Phil’s lives back on an even keel.
In 1972 Nick moved to Fort MacMurray, AB for GC West (Suncor). He enjoyed
the whole northern experience. In 1976 there were some company adjustments.
Nick and Phil moved to Sherwood Park where they remained. Nick’s jobs over
the years were at Eldorado Nuclear, Labatts and the Genesee project. In 1982
Nick met and married Shirley Tripp, a registered nurse. Nick permanently retired
from Hospital District 24 in 1991. He became adept with computers through the
Edmonton Computer Club.
From 1997 to 2010 Shirley and Nick became snowbirds in Yuma, AZ. Shirley
worked as a seasonal RN at Yuma Regional Hospital. Nick resumed playing
Chess and managing the home. They continued to enjoy retirement with snow
birding from 2010 to present.
Nick was a dedicated employee, working to improve the job he was in. He was
well liked and retained long term friends from his jobs. Nick always pushed to
improve the world we live in and the people in it. He was environmentally
friendly, believing the world could always be made a better place, a Liberal in
Politics and a Unitarian Universalist in belief.
In 2014 Nick and Shirley created the Kordellas Tripp foundation at the U of T to
help students in Nursing and Engineering. This was done to honor the U of T
and the wonderful life he has had since his graduation. He believed in Giving
Back to help others.
Nick contracted COVID on 20-Dec-20, was hospitalized on 29-Dec. Nick was
transferred home on Hospice on 4-Jan-21. On 5-Jan-21 Nick died in his home
from COVID respiratory failure. He is being cremated per his wishes.
Printable version here
On March 17, 2021, Shirley added these words to her facebook post with the obituary:
"After a life well lived the words to describe Nick are a good person, dutiful, hardworking, social, curious, and generous. Nick loved being with people and travelling, chess, spaghetti, Greek food and cheese (“My Mouse”). And Nick is loved and missed."
He is most definitely missed!
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