Nick Anagnos

Nikolaos “Nick” Anagnos died on Saturday, September 17 at the age of 92. He was a proud husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, and self-made entrepreneur.

Nick was born to Constantine and Calliope Anagnos on May 6, 1930, in Thelogo, Greece, a small village on the outskirts of Sparta. Nick was one of four children and their family home overlooked a field of olive trees they farmed. In 1951 at the age of 20, Nick immigrated to the United States and settled in Elkhart, Indiana. . He was sponsored by his Uncle Tony, Aunt Helen, and special cousin Esther Sarantos.

His Uncle Tony gave him a job as a shoe shine boy where he cleaned and blocked hats and ran the pool hall at his store, Sarantos Distributing. Nick was eager to make a living and wanted to sell pool tables at his uncle’s store but didn’t let his lack of fluency in English stop him. He reached out to Brunswick, a pool table manufacturer, and interviewed in Chicago to become a certified dealer. Instead of taking the written test, Nick demonstrated exactly how to measure, set up, and cover a pool table. Impressed with his precision and attention to detail, Nick became a Brunswick dealer on the spot.

Nick was introduced to Katina (née Antonakis) by mutual friends and married on September 24, 1961. Nick and Katina started their married life in Elkhart and had three sons: Dean, Tony, and George. Nick continued to work at Sarantos Distributing as a billiards professional before he took ownership.

Nick spent most of his career selling pool tables and other billiard accessories. For every pool table he installed, he would perform a trick shot for the buyer upon completion. He oversaw the rebranding of Sarantos Distributing to Pool Tables Plus in the 1980s and firmly believed in working “half days,” or 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hard work and dedication were just a few of the traits Nick instilled in his sons who took ownership of the business. He never truly retired and would walk between Pool Tables Plus and the 523 Tap & Grill every day answering the phones, helping customers, and visiting with his downtown Elkhart friends and regulars.

Nick was dedicated to his family and community. He was a long-time steward of St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church, a Freemason, a Shriner, and a member of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association. He and his wife Katina rarely missed one of their grandchildren’s soccer games, plays, or school functions and greatly enjoyed cruising in the Caribbean or a night at the 523.

Above all, Nick was a proud Greek-American and was quick to remind others that the “American Dream” is possible with a little grit and hard work. His smile, determination, and sense of humor will be missed by all who knew him.

Nick is preceded in death by his parents, Constantine and Calliope Anagnos; aunt and uncle, Tony and Helen Sarantos; and brother, George Anagnos. He is survived by his wife, Katina; sons, Dean (Natalie, née Strow) Anagnos, Tony (Staci, née Stanner) Anagnos, George (Megan, née Hunsberger) Anagnos; sisters, Maria Tsakgarous and Vasiliki Giannetos; cousin, Esther (née Sarantos) Arvanitis; granddaughters Chloe (Kyle) Anagnos Pierce, Catherine (Gregory) Anagnos Lenz, and granddaughter Katina Anagnos; grandsons Söl and Ovié Dumuje; great-granddaughter Winifred Pierce; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 21, at the Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home at 1531 Cobblestone Blvd in Elkhart, Indiana. This will include a Trisagion service which will take place at 7 p.m. followed by a Masonic service at 8 p.m. Visitation will take place at 9 a.m. on Thursday, September 22, at St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church at 52455 Ironwood Road, South Bend, with the funeral service at 10 a.m. and entombment to follow at Rice Cemetery, Elkhart.

In lieu of flowers, the Anagnos family asks that donations be made to St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church in honor of Nick at https://saintandrewgoc.org/ They would also like to thank Hubbard Hill – Living Wisdom Community and Heart to Heart Hospice for their kind and compassionate care of Nick. Online condolences at www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com