Nicholas Michael Tharenos

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Nicholas Michael Tharenos, an extraordinary man who lived his life to the fullest to the very end. Known for his ever-present smile and kind words, he was always willing to lend a helping hand. His dedication to his church and the Greek community was unwavering, and he found great joy in taking care of his family, friends, community, and country. Nick will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. Born on July 4, 1934, in Saint Louis, Missouri, to Michael and Dorothy Tharenos, Nick was the son of a Greek immigrant from the Island of Rhodes. While in high school, Nick worked in his father's grocery store, the Tharenos Gold Star Market. Tragically, he lost his father in a robbery incident in 1953. However Nick had fond memories of his father's pride in him pursuing a formal education, especially during a visit in his freshman year at Purdue's Phi Kappa Sigma house. While at Purdue, Nick was a member of the wrestling team, met his beautiful and witty wife, Genevieve "Becky" Christakis, and graduated in 1956 with a pharmaceutical degree. Upon graduating, he entered the US Army as a second lieutenant stationed at Fort Eustis, Virginia. In December 1957, he married Becky, and throughout their 67 years of marriage, they had three sons, Michael, David, and Anthony. Nick never forgot a person’s name and always listened, which made him a great friend and salesman. After serving in the US Army, he moved from Saint Louis to Grosse Pointe Park, working in pharmaceutical sales for Parke Davis. He then moved to Boulder, Colorado, and later returned to Saint Louis, taking on various sales positions until he started his own business, Med-Staff. In "retirement," he returned to practicing pharmacy, working for Saint Luke's, Express Scripts, and Walgreens. Up until the end, he volunteered for Saint Luke's Hospital and served on the St. Louis County Health and Hospital Advisory Board. As a long-standing member of both St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in St. Louis , Nick was always active in the community. His legacy endures in the success of the Saint Nicholas Labor Day Greek Festival, which he chaired for decades, and in the choir, where his voice will be missed. Just last week he was honored for his decades of service on Church Musicians Sunday. His three boys will remember their father as a hard-working, dedicated, and understanding father, with an infectious laugh that lit up a room - you could always make him laugh. He was a miracle worker with duct-tape, an avid golfer, a sports enthusiast, a proud gardener and a man who knew someone everywhere. He enjoyed travelling the globe with his wife and sharing many of these memories with his children and grandchildren, including his winters in Maui with their “second family and home”. Nick passed away unexpectedly on October 12, 2025, living life his way until the very end, despite a battle with cancer, joining his wife Becky Tharenos who preceded him in death. The memory of his kindness and devotion will live on in his brother Anthony Tharenos; his sister Mary Allums; his sons Michael (Barbara), David (Ann), and Anthony (Alice); his grandchildren Adam (Michelle), Alexandra (Peter Milosevich), Kaitlyn, Tiffany (Max Alles), Nicholas, and Athena; his great grandchildren Ada and Thea; as well as in the many lives he has touched through friendships and community service. Services: Visitation at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 4967 Forest Park Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108, Friday, October 17, 2025, 9:00 a.m. until time of funeral service at 10 a.m. Interment Bellerive Gardens. In lieu of flowers, we invite you to support The Tunnels to Towers Foundation. Click here (In Memory of Online Form) to make a donation. As a service of the SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, friends may sign the family’s on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.

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Nicholas Michael Tharenos

July 4, 1934 - October 12, 2025