Angelina Nicolaidou Rose

A scholar, BBC radio translator and head of programming, and later a successful real estate professional, Angelina bridged a life that began in war-torn Greece and flourished in the United States, where she was a devoted Manoula and Yia Yia to her family. Her life traced the arc of a generation shaped by hardship, resilience, and hope -- a war-torn childhood, a sweeping romance, and a new life in California. She died at 89, surrounded by the love she so generously gave.

Angelina Nicolaidou was born in June 1935 in Thessaloniki, Greece, the daughter of Themistoklis Nicolaidis and Aglaia Voulgaridou Nicolaidou, and sister to Nikolaos Nicolaidis. At the age of five, Angelina and her family were forced from their home in Thessaloniki during the German occupation of World War II. They resettled in the village of Plati, where her father had been redeployed as the station master. After the war, the family moved to Athens, where Angelina excelled academically while supporting herself through tutoring. She graduated from high school at 16 and earned the prestigious European BBC scholarship, awarded to the top male and female student in each country. That honor took her to England for university studies in English and technical translation.

Upon returning to Greece, she secured a rare post translating the BBC’s English-language broadcasts into Greek for national radio, the country’s only station at the time. Her talent and discipline quickly propelled her into leadership: she was promoted first to Head of Translation and later to Programming Director.

It was a twist of fate -- and a lost suitcase -- that led to meeting Nicholas Rose, Ph.D. In 1961, he was attending the International Congress of Applied Psychology and had been given Angelina's father's contact information as someone who might welcome a visiting Greek-American. When Nicholas arrived in Athens, his luggage (and the contact number) were delayed for two days, the same two days Angelina happened to be in Rome. She returned just in time for him to place the long-awaited call. Their meeting marked the beginning of a love story that blossomed into a marriage and a life of mutual devotion and purpose.

Angelina entered married life with the same spirited determination she brought to everything else. When she attempted her first Greek moussaka, she phoned her mother Aglaia for guidance. The call lasted two and a half hours and resulted in a legendary family story: the “Eight Hundred Dollar Moussaka,” named for the long-distance phone bill that followed. Though the early years of living far from her Greek family were difficult, she and Nicholas built a vibrant home of their own and returned to Greece every summer to reunite with their extended family.

By the 1980s, with her children Angela and Nick now in their teens, Angelina launched a new career. She earned a real estate license and joined Harleigh Sandler Real Estate in Los Angeles, where she quickly became a top-producing agent, winning awards and establishing herself as one of the city’s leading realtors for more than 20 years. Known for her warmth, integrity, and keen financial judgment, she formed lasting friendships with clients, many of whom returned to her again and again, even sending their adult children her way when it came time to buy first homes.

Through it all, Angelina remained a force in the kitchen. She prepared vibrant, healthy Greek food, always from memory and instinct, never from a recipe. Her lamb and potatoes were legendary, and her Greek olive spread made its way into every sandwich her children brought to school. Family was always her priority, and the home she created was a place of welcome and warmth, filled with lively dinner parties, rich conversation, and generous hospitality. Even in her absence, her presence lingered. Family friends knew they were welcome in her kitchen, where something delicious was always waiting.

After her husband’s death in 2000, Angelina moved from Los Angeles to Corona del Mar to be closer to her first grandchild, Kayla — soon followed by Natalie, Collin, and Eddy. Becoming a grandmother was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream, and the role of Yia Yia was its most treasured chapter. She lovingly referred to her grandchildren as her “Four Jewels” and poured herself into each of them with the deep devotion of a true Greek grandmother. More than a supporter, she was their confidant, knowing and understanding each grandchild in the way only she could. She gave hugs, wisdom, love, and food in equal measure. Ever curious, she eventually took to social media to keep up with her family’s busy lives, often posting delightfully amusing comments that kept everyone laughing. Weekly dinners were sacred -- gatherings full of shared lives, laughter, and love.

There was a gentle beauty to her passing, as if she knew it was her time to go. Angelina died of natural causes on Greek Easter, April 20, with no medications in her system and with joy still in her days. In the last chapter of her life, she found companionship at the Silverado Community, where she shared laughter and warmth with a close-knit circle of women who were her friends, caregivers, and fellow mischief makers. The vibrant renewal she experienced in her last six months is a testament to the truth that to love and be loved is to truly live. In her passing, she reminds us that, more than anything, we need one another.

Angelina is survived by her daughter, Angela Rose Huntsman and son-in-law, David Huntsman; her son, Nicholas Elias Rose and daughter-in-law, Peggy Shearer Rose; and her beloved grandchildren, Kayla Rose, Natalie Rose, Edward Huntsman, and Collin Rose.

A graveside service will be held at Pacific View Mortuary on Saturday, June 21 at 3:00 p.m., followed by a celebration of life at the home of Nick and Peggy Rose.