Protodeacon Nicholas P. Jannakos, 91, fell asleep in the Lord on November 18, 2023. He was born into a family of Greek immigrants (from Volos-Pelion Greece), in East St. Louis, IL on September 21, 1932. Upon graduation from High School he served in the Army during the Korean War. After his discharge, he studied at St. Louis University and graduated with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering.
In 1959 he was hired by Martin-Marietta and moved his young family to Golden, Colorado were he lived for the next 45 years. During his career as an engineer he also worked for Coors Brewery, Ball Container Corporation, Sterns-Roger Engineering, and Rockwell Aerospace. He loved hiking in the Rocky Mountains with family and friends, and was an avid reader of Orthodox theology. In 1973, while working with Sterns-Rogers on a contract at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver he met Father Michael Margitich, a chaplain on the base. Father Michael invited him to attend an OCA parish in the area, after which he eventually joined Saint Herman’s Orthodox Church in Littleton, Colorado with his family, under the pastoral care of Father Andrew Harrison, with whom he remained life-long friends, along with Father Dragan Filipovic and Father James Worth. In October of 1993 he was ordained to the holy diaconate by His Grace Bishop Tikhon of San Francisco, and served at Saint Herman’s until 2005, when he moved to Albuquerque New Mexico, where he was blessed to serve with Father George Sondergaard and Father Nikolay Miletkov.
He was a loving husband to his wife Elizabeth (Sharos) Jannakos for 69 years; loving brother to +Charitona (Chona) (Jannakos) & +Theodosius (Ted) Millas; +Gregory & Sue Jannakos, and George & Pat Anastas; loving father to the Archpriest Paul & Protinica Michelle Jannakos, Mark & Jennifer Jannakos, Mary Beth (Jannakos) & Daniel Chumney; loving grandfather of 10 grandchildren; loving great-grandfather to 7 great-grandchildren; many dear cousins, nephews, and nieces.
Funeral services will be held at All-Saints Orthodox Church, Albuquerque, NM, 10440 4th Street NW, 87114
Tuesday, November 28
4:00 - 6:00 PM: Visitation
Tuesday, November 28
6:00 PM: Funeral Service
Wednesday, November 29
9:30 AM, Divine Liturgy, followed by a memorial luncheon
Protodeacon Nicholas Jannakos’ family extends their immense gratitude to the VA Hospice in Albuquerque New Mexico and to Father Nikolay Miletkov, rector of All-Saints parish, for his gracious pastoral care.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to All Saints of America Parish Building Fund and/or the IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities).
May Protodeacon Nicholas’ memory be eternal!