William Nicholas Koutrelakos

William "Bill" Nicholas Koutrelakos was born on 12/14/1930 in Dover NH of Greek immigrant parents. He was raised in Dover where he worked at his family restaurant, ‘Nick’s Lunch.’ He graduated from the Univ. of NH in 1953 with a BA in Zoology. He joined the Navy and served as a Navy Corpsman for two years. In June of 1956, he married Mary Moniodis who he met at a Greek dance in Baltimore where they settled for a time until they moved to Perry Hall where they raised their two children, Nicholas - an oncologist and Adrienne - a financial analyst. He obtained a master’s degree in Elementary Education from Loyola College and began teaching in Baltimore City where he became a beloved teacher. One grateful 5th grade class (of 1963) from Cross Country Elementary School held a reunion in his honor, 27 years later to thank him and the reunion was featured in the June 1990 edition of People Magazine. He later served as a principal at Elmer Henderson, Montebello and Brehms Lane Elementary Schools until his retirement in 1993. He had worked in the city school system for about 40 years.

Bill was very involved in the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation in Baltimore City, where he taught Sunday school for almost 60 years. In the early 70’s, Bill, Mary and several other parishioners launched Annunciation’s “Greek Festival” which, held annually, ultimately grew to become the church’s largest fundraiser and has continued to flourish each year. He was also a lifetime member of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) which, among other functions, helps to raise money for scholarships for deserving individuals. He also volunteered for many years, developing and organizing the church library.

He and Mary moved to Howard County in 2001, in order to be closer to his children and his seven grandchildren always attending their games and hosting Greek dinners. He never tired of his love of teaching and he subsequently became a substitute teacher in the county, primarily in elementary and middle school. He was most often seen at West Friendship Elementary, Bonnie Branch, Mount View and Manor Woods Middle schools where he was fondly known as “Mr. K.” From 2004 through 2015 he subbed up to 100 days during several of those years so he was able to influence another generation of students through his passion for teaching.

He is survived by his son, Nick, his wife Susan Lancelotta and their children: Lauren Koutrelakos Kelly and her husband Patrick, Elizabeth Koutrelakos and her husband, Blake Votilla, William “Nick” Koutrelakos and Mary Lynn Koutrelakos, as well as his daughter, Adrienne Koutrelakos Borkowski, her husband David and their children: Meredith Borkowski Guerriero and her husband Guisseppe, Morgan Borkowski and Michael Borkowski, as well as his great grandchildren, Clara, Owen and Jacquelyn Kelly. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary, as well as three brothers and five sisters.

Family and friends are invited to call at the Sterling-Ashton-Schwab-Witzke Funeral Home of Catonsville Inc., 21228 on Thursday, July 7 from 3-5 and 7-9 pm. The funeral will be held on Friday, July 8 at 11 am, at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, 24 W Preston St, Baltimore, Md 21201. The interment will follow at the Greek Orthodox Cemetery, 5917 Windsor Mill Rd, Woodlawn, Md, 21244. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Order of the AHEPA or to the scholarship fund through the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sterlingashtonschwabwitzke.com for the Koutrelakos family.