Rev. Nicholas G. Lassios

Rev Nicholas G. Lassios, 72, of 17 Tunnel Road, Newtown, husband of Fay (Coroneos) Lassios, died on February 3 at Danbury Hospital after being stricken ill at home.

Born in New York August 23, 1927, a son of the late George and Bessie (Kalogeras) Lassios, he attended New York schools, graduated from Bedford Stuyvesant High School and the City College of New York with a degree in engineering. Rev Lassios grew up in the parish of St Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church in Washington Heights, New York City. It was there he was baptized and married; he was also active in the youth program there.

He then joined Timex Corporation in 1957, which then became part of Allied Signal, and retired in 1991. He was a US Army veteran having served with the occupational forces in Japan.

A resident of New York City from 1958 to 1979, he served as parish council president of the Sts Konstantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church of West Nyack, and a religious education instructor at St Anthony’s Antiochian Orthodox Church of West Bergenfield. He was ordained a deacon and later helped establish Holy Transfiguration Church – O.C.A.

A resident of Newtown since 1979, Rev Lassios served the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of Danbury as deacon and in 1981 was ordained a priest.

Rev Lassios served the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of Danbury as assistant until 1985 when he was assigned to the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Mission Church of Middletown, N.Y. He helped establish and direct construction of a new church, which was completed in 1988.

In 1992, he served St Basil’s Greek Orthodox Church of New Haven and directed construction of a new church.

During his ministry, in 1986, he started a prison ministry program that evolved into a formal prison program named Holy Cross Prison Ministry, which maintains ministry programs in correctional facilities in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. In conjunction with prison ministry, Holy Cross Prison Ministry also sponsored study courses for high school credit for the incarcerated.

Rev Lassios held a Master’s in Divinity from St Vladimir Seminary in Yonkers, N.Y.

He was a recipient of the Offikion of Sakellarios and the Offikion of Economos for his service to the Greek Orthodox Church of North and South America. These honors were bestowed upon him by Archbishop Iakovos, as well as being a recipient of the Medal of St Andrew.

Rev Lassios was also recognized by the Order of AHEPA for his contribution to the Greek Orthodox Church of Danbury.

In addition to his spouse of 45 years, Rev Lassios is survived by three daughters, Rosann Williams of Mesa, Ariz., Barbara Lassios of Newtown, and Christine Golden of Holbrook, Mass.; and four grandchildren.

The Divine Liturgy was celebrated on February 7 in the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 30 Clapboard Ridge Road, Danbury, followed by the Rite of Burial for a Priest. Interment followed in St Peter Cemetery, Danbury.

Contributions in Rev Lassios’ memory may be made to the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church Building Fund, 30 Clapboard Ridge Road, Danbury, CT 06811.

The Jowdy-Kane Funeral Home, 9-11 Granville Avenue, Danbury, was in charge of arrangements.

The Newtown Bee         February 11, 2000