Harris P. Nikitas

Fitchburg, Massachusetts - Harris P. "Harry" Nikitas died at Leominster Hospital on December 14, 2013.

Born in Fitchburg on June 30, 1919, he was the son of Helen (Bouzoumis) and Peter Nikitas. He was a lifelong resident of Fitchburg, and was a 1937 graduate of Fitchburg High School. He served in the United States Army Air Force during World War II, as a pilot instructor, and during the Korean Conflict, where he was an Air Force aircraft commander. He retired as a Lt. Colonel from the Air Force Reserve. He is also a retired Captain from the Fitchburg Fire Department after more than 30 years of service. He grew up on West Street and was a member of the Greek Orthodox Church and community. He spent most of his married life living on Lincoln Street, until recently moving to The Gables Assisted Living, where he made many new friends. He was a pilot, avid golfer, and loved playing poker and spending time with friends and family. He and his late wife, Janet, spent their winters in North Palm Beach, Florida.

He is survived by three sons, Harris Jr. and his wife Joyce of Fitchburg; Thomas and his wife Karen of Fitchburg; Richard and his wife Janet of Leominster; and his daughter Jane Munzell, and her husband Jeffrey, of Hamilton, Virginia, and his grandchildren Matthew, Gregory, Christopher and Curtis Nikitas, Michael and Elena Munzell and several nieces and nephews. He also leaves his sister, Artemis Constantinides, of Potomac, Maryland; his sisters-in-law, Bess Nikitas of Concord, Massachusetts, and Eleanor Nourie of Fitchburg.

He was predeceased by his wife of sixty-four years, Janet, who died in 2009. He was also predeceased by his siblings, Demetra, Marines, Christine, Irene, Georgia, Louis, and Peter.

Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, December 17, 2013, from 4 PM until 7 PM, and Wednesday, December 18, 2013 from 10 AM until 11AM at Lavery Chartrand & Alario Funeral Home, 99 Summer Street, Fitchburg, MA. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at 11:00 AM, with Father Paul Bebis officiating. Burial will be at a later date.

The family is thankful for the care given them by the staff at Leominster Hospital and The Gables Assisted Living. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in his name to The American Cancer Society , 30 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701.