Mr. Nicholas Constantine Panayiotou, age 80, born August 6, 1942, in Mobile, Alabama and a resident of Daphne, Alabama died on Tuesday, January 25, 2022. Nick had been active in several organizations over the years including as a Master Mason in the Scottish Rite, Mystics of Time, Mobile Jaycees, National Restaurant Association, and the Foolish Friends of Saint Patrick, where he was given the honor of being the first person not of Irish descent to serve as Grand Leprechaun.
After the death of his father, Constantine N. Panayiotou, Nick became head of his family’s restaurant as President of Constantine’s Restaurant on Government Street. Nick also operated the WLPR 96FM radio station in Mobile providing a popular easy listening format and news programming to the Gulf Coast region for eighteen years. This included a thirteen-year run of the infamous Bedside Theater with Tom Lawrence (Nick) and Captain Electric (WLPR Chief Engineer Steve Riggs). The show developed a devoted cult following across the region. Nick was a fun-loving man with a big personality, kind and generous to all who knew him and adored by his children and grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents Constantine and Emily Panayiotou. He is survived by his four children, Tammy Panayiotou, Tonya (Darren) McMillan, Nicolette (Tom) Phillips, Constantine (Paulanne) Panayiotou; eight grandchildren, Tyler Dennis, David Dennis, Caleb Isbell, Trent Phillips, Madison Isbell, Brayden Phillips, Jackson Phillips, and Gloria Panayiotou. He is also survived by his brother George (Abby) Panayiotou and his sister Maria (John) Weichman.
At the request of the family and in consideration of the ongoing COVID19 pandemic the visitation and funeral service will be private for family members only. The funeral service will be available for viewing by live stream on the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Mobile Facebook page at 11am on Monday, January 31, 2022.
A public memorial service and celebration of Mr. Panayiotou’s life will be held in one year or when it is safe to do so. Memorial donations may be made to the Benevolent Fund of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church at the following link. Note in the memo section that the donation is in memory of Nicholas Panayiotou https://abundant.co/annunciationgreekort/give Alternately you may make a donation in his name to the charity of your choice. Condolence messages maybe offered online at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com
