Nikolaos Peter Birbilis, 81, Bradenton, passed away February 6, 2016.
Nikolaos was born on March 6, 1934 in Agridion, Hlias, Greece, the son of Panayiotis and Eugenia Birbilis. In 1952 at age of 18, he came to America, settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, became an American Citizen, and worked at Square D Company.
In 1958, he married the love of his life Maria Stathopoulou and had two children. In 1972 with his family, the moved to Bradenton, Florida so the sisters would be reunited since childhood, where together with his wife they opened The Parthenon Greek Restaurant in downtown Bradenton.
In 1978, he took his family to live in Greece, where they stayed for three years and came back to Bradenton in 1981, and opened the Olympic Flame Greek Restaurant until 1984. He then went to work for the Manatee County School board in the maintenance department until his retirement. Even after his retirement he continued to work by helping his son with Basil’s Restaurant on 1st Street in Bradenton. Nikolaos was also active at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church Glendi when it was first open in 1984.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters; Katerina Birbilis and Yanoula Xronopoulos, brother, Thanasi Birbilis of Greece, grandson, Konstantine "Dean“ Malliaras, and sister-in-law, Athanasia "Soula“ Johnson.
Nikolaos is survived by his beloved wife Maria Stathopoulou Birbilis, daughter, Eugenia "Jean“ (Nick) Malliaras, son, Peter "Pano“ Birbilis, two grandchildren; Vasil Malliaras & Marie (George) Lamarre, two great-grandchildren; George Dean and Craig Nicholas Lamarre. He is also survived by his brother-in-law’s; Alan Johnson of Bradenton, Dr. Petros (Estathia) Stathopoulos of Chicago, IL, George Stathopoulos and Panos Stathopoulos of Athens, Greece. Nieces and nephews; Gus Johnson, Theodora (George) Miller, Gus (Georgia) Stathopoulos, Christine (Josh) Waldbeser, Dr. Theodora Stathopoulos, Constantine Stathopoulos, Dionisios Stathopoulos, Vaggelis Xronopoulos. Great-grandnieces and nephews; Alexander, Savannah, Ariana, Marissa, Ava, Maximos, Marios, Dany, Sofianna, George, Ioanna, George, Fany, Panos and Mary.
The family received friends from 6-8 P.M. on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at Shannon Funeral Home Westview Chapel, 5610 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, with a Trisagion Service that was held at 7:00 P.M. Funeral services were held at 11:30 A.M. on Wednesday, February 10, 2016 at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 7671 North Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota. Interment followed at Mansion Memorial Park in Ellenton.
In lieu of flowers the family request that memorials be made to St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church in Nikolaos’s memory.
Condolences for the family may be made online at www.shannonfuneralhomes.com.
