Nikolaos S Vastakis

Mr. Nikolaos Sotirios Vastakis, 84, passed away peacefully at his home in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 1, 2015. He was born in Kastania, Evrytanias, Greece to Sotirios and Eleni Vastakis. He served in the Greek Airforce. He was married to Georgia Baches on July 7, 1957 in Athens, Greece. They came to the United States soon after and settled in Augusta, Georgia before moving to Atlanta, where they have lived since. He worked as a printer with Allen's Printing Company, but after becoming allergic to the inks, he followed the path of many immigrants and started a long career in the restaurant industry. He joined many fellow Greeks in working at places like the Camelia Garden Restaurant and others before managing many of the Zesto's Snack Shop locations for many years. He then became the manager of Athens Pizza House on Clairmont Road before venturing out and opening Colossus Pizza with his brother-in law Howard Lucas in 1983. In 1992, he opened Papa Nick's Greek Pizza and Restaurant with his two sons. At all of these restaurants along the way, Nick worked tirelessly and with integrity and honesty, giving his all. He touched so many people, customers, and employees alike. Countless workers in the restaurants thought of Nick as a father, with many still calling him Pops years later. He was a lifetime member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, serving his church and community. He was a member of AHEPA, The Evrytanian Association of America, Danaos Society, Agia Ekaterini in Atlanta, and Kastaniotis and Agia Paraskevi in Greece. In what little free time he had, he was always helping at the old Hellenic Center on Chesire Bridge Rd, where he could be found either cooking in the kitchen or coaching out on the ballfields. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sotirios and Eleni Vastakis, and brothers Ioanni, Panagioti, and Manoli of Athens Greece. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Georgia Baches Vastakis, and their children, Presvytera Elaine Stratis (Father Anthony) of Knoxville, TN, Golfo Vastakis Odenwelder (Jerry), Steve Vastakis (Janet), and Frank Vastakis(Litsa). Also surviving are his sister, Vasiliki Lekakos of Athens, Greece, and sisters in law Pauline Giannakopoulos (Pete) and Martha Lucas; eight grandchildren: Nick and Stavros Stratis, Yeoryia and Kassiani Vastakis, Niko and Martha Odenwelder, Nicholas and Alexander Vastakis; numerous godchildren, nieces, and nephews in US and Greece. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 pm Saturday, October 3, at the Greek Cathedral of the Annunciation, 2500 Clairmont Rd, Atlanta GA 30329, with Fr. Paul Kaplanis, Fr. Christos Mars and Fr. Anthony Stratis officiating. Burial will follow at Floral Hills Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Endowment Fund. The family will receive friends on Friday, October 2, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm with a Trisagion service at 7:00 pm at A.S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home and Crematory.


Funeral Home:
A.S. Turner
2773 N. Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033