Nicholas Speros Stamates

Nicholas S. Stamates passed away Saturday, March 30th surrounded by his loving family at home. He recently celebrated his 90th birthday in November. Born in Newark NJ, Nick was the son of the late Eftihia Papademas Stamates and Fotis Stamates. The family moved to Thebes, Greece until he was six years old, and then moved back to the USA right when World War II broke out. He graduated from West Side High School in 1952. He met his true love Mary who was his neighbor in the Greek section of Newark. They married in 1957 and have enjoyed 66 years of marriage. They moved to Hamilton, NJ when Nick took a job with EMR Photoelectric as a Sr. Electrical Engineer Aide. Nick designed parts and patents for NASA and took his family twice to see the rocket launches in Florida. He was a member of St. George Greek Orthodox Church, where he was a Sunday School teacher, a Youth Advisor and Basketball Coach. You would always find him directing traffic in the church parking lot at the Greek festivals. He was also a member of the St. George Seniors Club.

He is the brother of the late Calliope (Stamates) Haracopos and Athanasia (Stamates) Montano. He is survived by his loving and caring wife Mary (Mitchell) Stamates, his three daughters Sondi (Stamates) Huber (son-in-law Erv Huber and grandson Austin Huber), Francine (Stamates) Carroll (son-in-law Dr. Michael Carroll, grandsons Marc Carroll and Dr. Matthew Carroll/fiancé Allie Clapp) and his pride and joy Nicole Stamates. His sister-in-law Anna (Mitchell) Hummel visited Nick nearly every week, bringing him treats that he always looked forward to. Nothing would stop Anna’s commitment to visiting Nick and putting a smile on his face. Not even a tornado, a flat tire, or an aching back. Along with several nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends.

His hobbies were listening to all varieties of music, collecting audio equipment, and playing records. He designed his own audio room with acoustics to make the sound of music perfect. In fact, his gifted ears could catch any error of an orchestra.

He loved cars and had a 55 Chevy he was planning to restore, but sadly it was stolen from the front of his home. He then had a 68 Buick Skylark which he restored and won an Award at the 6th Rotary Auto Extravaganza in 1997 in Princeton, NJ. He loved landscaping and creating flower designs for his lawn and kept it in pristine condition. He retired early at 57 and began cooking. His specialty was Greek food that he made for his family. Nick had a heart of gold and loved his family fiercely. He was sweet, kind and caring to others, always teaching us to forgive and forget. In his last years, he was always thankful for the help he received from others, including his caretakers Ava and Rusheda.

Family and friends may pay their respects on Sunday, April 7th from 3:00 - 5:00 pm at the Hamilton Brenna- Cellini Funeral Home, 2365 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road, Hamilton NJ 08619.  Greek Orthodox funeral services will be held on Monday April 8, 2024, at 12:00 pm at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 1200 Klockner Road, Hamilton, NJ 08619.  Entombment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery, 1800 Hamilton Avenue, Hamilton, NJ 08619.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Nick’s memory in honor of his grandson Austin Huber to the NJ State Organization of Cystic Fibrosis www.njsocf.org.  Select donate, then tribute donate or mail to: PO Box 3648 Wayne, NJ 07474-3648.

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