Nicholas Mihalas

Nicholas M. Mihalas passed away on June 26th, 2017. Nick was born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1937. As the son of Greek immigrants, he did not learn to speak English until the first grade. His father died when Nick was only four and his mother, Vivi, was left to raise three young children on her own. Vivi had three simple rules which guided Nick throughout his life: get an education, be economical, and be nice to people. Nick was a star athlete and senior class president at Maury High School. Dozens of universities recruited him for their football programs, but Nick selected Virginia Tech due to the strength of their engineering program. Off the field, Nick earned his BS in Chemical Engineering and was active in the Corp of Cadets. Nick took his first job with General Electric in Philadelphia. He earned his MBA from Pepperdine University and went to work for Timex, eventually being promoted to President, where he oversaw their move from mechanical to electronic quartz watches. Nick left Timex to become a consultant and entrepreneur, later retiring to Kiawah Island, South Carolina. Nick married his wife Elaine in 1966, and they had two children, Mike and Christina. Nick loved his three grandchildren, Nicholas, Zoë, and Xan. Being around family and friends was Nick’s greatest joy and he enjoyed spending his last years close to his grandkids in the mountains near Brevard, North Carolina. Nick was always entertaining and enjoyed being around people. He was relentlessly optimistic and good humored, joking to the very end. He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Elaine M. Mihalas; along with his son Michael J. Mihalas and his wife Nicole of Pisgah Forest, North Carolina; and daughter Christina Mihalas of Pacifica, California; and three grandchildren, Nicholas, Zoë, and Alexander. Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com. Moody-Connolly Funeral Home is caring for the family.