Nick J. Vrotsos

Nick Jim Vrotsos Born June 18, 1925 Monessen, PA Died January 17, 2019, Massillon, OH Nick was the son of Pandazis and Mary (Moutafis) Vrotsos. He was preceded in death by his daughter Janice (Groves); sister Lorraine; brothers James, George, Gus, Pete, John, and Tony. He is survived by Jerelyn (Simms), his wife of 65 years; sister Daisy Goscik; son Jeffery (Janine); grandchildren Greg Vrotsos and Laura Ward (Mark); great grandchildren Aden, Merrill, and Ellery; brother- and sister-in-law Larry and Judie Simms; and son-in-law Abraham Groves; and many nieces and nephews. His early years were spent in Sabraton, WV, until the Vrotsos family moved to Martins Ferry, OH, when Nick was still in elementary school. There he grew up enjoying sports and being part of a large, active family of two girls and six boys. He distinctly remembered the moment he heard President Roosevelt speak on the radio to declare war on Japan after the Pearl Harbor attacks. Nick earned all-Ohio recognition in football and basketball at Martins Ferry high school and graduated early in 1944, as many men did during the war. He served in the United States Marine Corps from April 1944 to August 1946 as Station Operations Crash Crew, 9th Marine Air Wing, Cherry Point, NC. Name-recognition from his Martins Ferry sports prowess by a higher-ranking Marine saved him from being sent to Iwo Jima with the rest of his unit. However, it also put him in the most dangerous fire-fighting job in the group as an asbestos suit/CO2 nozzle man. After the war Nick attended the University of Alabama on a football scholarship, though because of an injury he ultimately finished on a basketball scholarship—and was captain his senior year. His time at Alabama made it clear he wanted to pursue a career in coaching and teaching. After graduation he returned to the Ohio Valley for his first job as head coach in Dillonvale, OH, since it was close to home during a time in which his mother’s health was failing. There he met Jerry Simms, a classmate and friend of his younger sister, Daisy. They both say it was love at first sight. From there he went to Dover, OH, where he developed tremendously successful teams and made personal friends for life with players, coaches, and community members. His consistent success found him soon being recommended for hiring at the pinnacle of high school football for that time, Massillon Washington High School. This is where Nick spent the remaining 60 years of his life. He retired after 33 years coaching and teaching (mechanical drawing and driver’s education). Time finally took its toll on his once athletic body, and life fittingly ended for Nick in his beloved Massillon a few short weeks after celebrating 65 years of marriage with his dear Jerry December 4, 2018. The family will receive friends on Saturday, January 26, 2019 from 10-12 p.m. at the Paquelet Funeral Home in Massillon. Funeral services will follow at 12 p.m. with Dr. Mark Ward officiating and burial will follow at Rosehill Memorial Gardens where military honors will be rendered. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Washington High School Janice (Vrotsos) Groves scholarship fund, One Paul Brown S.E., Massillon, OH 44646.