NICHOLAS GAITANIS
Nicholas Gaitanis, 75, of Ringwood, formerly of Montclair, died on Monday, Aug. 20.
Born on Christmas day in the small village of Kefalas, Crete, Mr. Gaitanis survived the Nazi occupation of the island, and moved to New York with his parents and six siblings; they lived in Sunnyside, Queens.
In 1972, Mr. Gaitanis purchased a Victorian home in Montclair. He spent the next 30 years restoring the house to its original grandeur. In 2002, he left Montclair and moved to Ringwood, where he enjoyed quiet walks around Erskine Lake and playing checkers with his grandchildren.
Mr. Gaitanis graduated from William Cullen Bryant High School in Long Island City. Following an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, he earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from City College in New York. He worked in the private sector until 1971, when he took a position with the City of New York.
After seven years in the comptroller’s office, Mr. Gaitanis took a position as chief engineer in the Sanitation Department, where he oversaw the complete overhaul of all the agency’s garages in all five boroughs. In 1994, he was elected president of the Municipal Engineers of the City of New York. He completed his career in the Mayor’s Office of Construction, retiring from his service with the city in 1998.
Mr. Gaitanis is survived by his wife of 49 years, Elaine (Loizides) Gaitanis; his four children, Penelope Katsaras, Ariadne Scibetta, John Gaitanis, and Louis Gaitanis; and his seven grandchildren.
For online condolences, visit www.moriartyfuneralhome.com.
