Heaven gained an angel, someone with incredible strength and selflessness, Nicholas "Nick" Kyriacou.

Nick, 92, passed peacefully on January 27, 2021 joining his wife, Anna Kyriacou, who predeceased him by 20 months. Nick was born in Ergates, Cyprus, where he was apprenticed to a local barber at 11 years old to learn the trade that he practiced his whole life. As the oldest of seven children, he emigrated to the United States in 1948 when he was 20 years old to create a better life for himself and his family. He was sponsored by his uncle and namesake, Nicholas Photsios, and got his start working in his uncle's hardware store in Detroit, Michigan, while attending night school to learn English.

He served our country as an Air Force private and then sergeant during the Korean War. He was stationed for a time in Morocco, where he earned extra money as the base barber, and in Germany, where he bought his first movie camera that he later used to document every major moment in his children's lives. He met his match in Anna at an ice rink back in Detroit. After a brief engagement, they were married in 1955. They honeymooned in California and then settled in Michigan. Nick and Anna helped their younger siblings come to the United States and were soon joined by relatives from both sides who established small businesses in the Detroit area.

Nick and Anna never forgot how much they loved California and decided to move to the place that reminded them so much of Cyprus in 1965. Settling in Burbank, they opened both a barbershop and beauty shop on Hollywood Boulevard. When casting directors entered Nick's barber shop and asked if he knew of any Greeks who could play extras in a movie, he promised to recommend others if he were cast, too. Reserved and even tempered, his stoic side truly shined when he played a judge in "The Other Side of Midnight."

He and Anna eventually opened a Greek market and liquor store called "The Greek Agora" next to their other shops. Nick became a beloved fixture on Hollywood Boulevard - he fed his customers and the homeless alike. He never turned anyone away - if they were hungry, he would provide them with a sandwich, chips and a drink - teaching his children a valuable lesson in compassion and empathy. Working side by side with his wife, Nick put all his children through college and graduate school.

Even after Nick and Anna "retired" to Palm Desert, he continued to work at a small barbershop until he was 88 years old. One of his favorite customers was Vice President Spiro Agnew. For as long as he and Anna could, they made the drive every Saturday morning so they could spend the weekend with their grandchildren. He came ready with the latest barbershop jokes to make them laugh, and he brought his tools and set up a makeshift barber shop in the laundry room to give them haircuts. Nick was a skilled tavli (backgammon) player, and he taught his grandchildren how to play smart but fair. He was an expert grill master and made the best loukaniko (sausage). He had wonderful taste in music, enjoying the likes of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, while equally loving to cheer on the Dodgers.

Nick changed the lives of so many others, not only through his devotion to family and generosity of spirit but also through his kind smile and sharp wit. He would have given his last dollar to help another soul. We did not deserve him. We miss him greatly and will remember him always.

Nick is survived by his daughter Christal and husband Michael Karnaze, son Demetrios Kyriacou and wife Georgia, son Kyriacos "Gig" Kyriacou and wife Kathleen and grandchildren Anna and her husband Khalid Elwanni, Christianna and her husband Speros Mantas, Julia, Michael John, Nicholas, Kathryn, Basil and Maria. He also leaves behind his siblings Costa, Androula, Helen, Andreas, and Charalambos and many cherished nieces, nephews, cousins, and brothers and sisters-in-law.

Due to strict Covid restrictions, a private funeral will be held at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral on Saturday, February 6, 2021. The service will be live streamed on saintsophia.org at 11am PST. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to Saint Sophia Camp (scholarship fund), 1324 S. Normandie Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90006.

Arrangements under the direction of Chapman Funeral Homes - Terry & Mary Harmon, Funeral Directors. Toll free (855) 628-0447.

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Obituary notice for Chapman Funeral Homes. Please visit www.chapmanfuneraldirectors.com .

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