Obituary of Nicholas Combitchi

Nicholas “Nick” Combitchi Nicholas “Nick” Combitchi, age 82, of Erie, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital. He was born on January 15, 1935 in Thessaloniki Greece, the son of the late Apostolos and Arhondia (Psomiades) Combitsis Lazaros. He emigrated to the US in 1946 with his brother, the Very Rev. Constantine Combitsis and his sister Presbytera Helen Nacopoulos. He graduated from Crane Technical School in Chicago then enlisted in the US Army serving for twenty-two years. During that time, he served three tours in Korea and three tours in Vietnam as a Green Beret in the Special Forces (expert paratrooper) and received multiple medals and accommodations including two Purple Hearts and three Bronze Stars. Nick retired in 1973 with a rank of E8 Master Sergeant and continued his service with the US Government as an intelligence liaison to Greece until 1976. In June of 1976, the family moved to the US from Greece and settled in Erie where Nick enrolled at Gannon College and obtained his degree in mechanical engineering. He was employed at Starlite Plastics (later Multi-Products) as the operations manager. In 1984 he started his career at Met Life Ins. as a sales rep., then branch manager, and finally retired as a financial planner. He was always dedicated to the service of the Greek Orthodox Church and was instrumental in the building of the new church on West Lake Rd. He was the first co-chair of the Annual Greek Festival. He also had a lifetime dedication to the service of veterans, specifically wounded vets. He held several leadership positions with the Military Order of Purple Hearts Chapter 197 Erie, PA and the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 73; Adjutant for the Commonwealth of PA and Commander (MOPH); Treasurer (DAV) He was a lifetime member of the American Legion, the VFW, and several other military organizations. He was instrumental in acquiring the funding for the erection of both the Purple Heart and the Korean War Memorials located in Erie on 26th and State Streets. He enjoyed coin collecting and spending time with his family. Nick was preceded in death by his former wife Danielle Lizeroux Lei and a niece Maria (Combitsis) Kane. He is survived by his children Daniel Combitsis, D.O. (Renee Lee) of Livermore, CA, Mary-Helen Russell Wentzell (Shawn) of Erie, four grandchildren: Danielle and Thomas Russell and Jordan and Annelyse Combitsis, one brother the Very Rev. Constantine Combitsis (Arghyroula) of NY, one sister Helen Nacopoulos (the Very Rev. Theofanis) of Fairview, two nieces and three nephews. Friends may call at the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd. on Friday, February 24, 2017 (today) from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a Trisagion Service at 8:00 p.m. Further visitation on Saturday, February 25, 2017 at the funeral home from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Liturgy at 11:00 a.m. at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 4376 West Lake Rd., Erie, PA 16505. A full military honor will be presented at the church following the service. His final resting place will be at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to 1) Boots on Ground, Palace Centre, 913 State Street, Suite 220-230, Erie, PA 16501 or 2) Assumption Greek Orthodox Church.