Nicholas Pelecanos, Md

NICHOLAS THEOPHILOS PELECANOS, M.D., aged 85 years, passed away Sept. 8, 2009 at his home surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with cancer. Dearly beloved husband for 52 years to Thean (nee Kanakaredes), dearest father of Lydia Sweeney (Timothy) and Eleni Pelecanos-Matts (Joseph), loving grandfather of Nicholas and Fiona Sweeney and Joe Ares, Sophia and Victor Matts, cherished son of the late Theophilos and Nomiki (nee Halkidiou), devoted brother of the late Constantinos Pelecanos (Nikki), the late Irini Vatikiotis (George) (both of Greece) and the late Emanuel Pelecanos (Anna) (of Australia), fond uncle to many nieces and nephews.

Dr. Pelecanos completed his medical studies at the National University of Athens, Greece in 1953. He served as a General Surgeon in the Military Hospital of Tripolis, Greece. In 1956, he came to the United States to further his surgical training. He trained in Canton, Ohio and later Buffalo, New York where he completed a second specialty of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. He practiced Thoracic and Vascular Surgery at the Lake Hospital System in Willoughby and Painesville, Ohio from 1967 through 1989. He was an active member of numerous professional organizations. He was the recipient of the Physician of the Year award from Lake Hospitals in 1974.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Dr. Pelecanos may be made to Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral Memorial Fund, 3352 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland Hts., OH 44118; or to the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) 110 West Rd., Suite 360, Baltimore, MD 21204; or to a Cancer Research entity of your choice.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2009, at Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral at 11:00 AM. with Rev. Fr. Stephen Callos, Officiating. Burial following in Lake View Cemetery.

The family will receive friends to pay tribute and celebrate the life of Dr. Pelecanos at THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF SOUTH EUCLID, 4600 MAYFIELD RD. (just East of Green Rd.) ON Friday September 11, 2009 from 4-8 PM. A Trisagion Service will be held on Friday evening at 7:30 PM.