Nicholas “Nick” Karamatsoukas, aged 80, of Philadelphia, PA passed away peacefully on October 9, 2024 following a three-year battle with lymphoma.  He is survived by his beloved wife, Celeste, his three children and their spouses John (Katherine), Alex, and Christina Schoon (Adam), his three grandchildren Angela & Nicolette Karamatsoukas, Wilhelmina Schoon, and his brother Emmanouil Karamatsoukas (Lena).

Nick was born April 2, 1944 in the town of Velventos, Greece to Yiannis Karamatsoukas and Irini (Tsimbis).  Nick’s early years were humble, earning money picking tobacco leaves and where a meal of toast with lard was the norm.  Nick knew hard work, what it was like to be hungry, and his upbringing profoundly shaped his philosophies and work ethic; namely a talent for creating something from nothing.  He was driven to never reexperience poverty and worked tirelessly to provide for his family which was his singular life goal.

In 1972, Nick chose to immigrate to the United States with little more than a packed suitcase and some cash to seek fuller education and professional opportunities – the American dream.  Nick was sponsored by his relative Irene Karros getting his start working as a dishwasher at the Athens Diner in Wildwood, NJ.  Nick met Celeste, the love of his life, at a St. George Cathedral of Philadelphia youth event.  They celebrated their 50th anniversary this past July. 

Nick learned English by going to the movies while working on his IEEE degree from Spring Garden College.  He quickly felt the urge to control his destiny and start his own foodservice business like many Greek immigrants before him.  First, Nick purchased a lunch truck and with the hands-on help of (and with his pride a little bruised) a very pregnant Celeste to serve Drexel University’s campus homemade food.  Thereafter he opened Nick’s Luncheonette on 11th & Cherry Streets in Philadelphia where he honed his skills and proudly talked about making tomorrow’s homemade soup from the day’s remaining food scraps.  This venture inspired him to purchase a delivery truck and sell provisions to other restauranteurs.  Competitors and opportunists repeatedly threatened his life and livelihood, but he always viewed obstacles as motivators – no one could stop him from realizing his vision.

In the late 1970s, Nick noticed that his customers were hand slicing frozen ribeye to make Philadelphia’s famous cheesesteak sandwiches.  Nick figured he could do this for them cheaper and safer.  Roxborough Meat Co. (born out of a converted garage in 1981) was the beginning of his story producing sandwich steaks.  Nick was an innovator CEO with the production rooms and maintenance shops serving as his office.  You would regularly find Nick covered in equipment grease, tinkering, and developing equipment for processes that did not yet exist.  Nick co-founded the company with his friend, the late George Kontodemos.  Ten years later he co-founded Philadelphia Pre-Cooked Steak Co. with his friend, the late Stavros Kalisperis.  The family businesses quickly grew to become the leading foodservice producers of sandwich steaks.  Original Philly Holdings was proudly sold to Tyson Foods in 2017. 

Nick gave joyfully with no interest in accolades.  Nick & Celeste’s philanthropic passions, both local and global, predominantly focused on charities to overcome poverty and hunger.  On one occasion Nick, with his sons, loaded his van from floor to ceiling with blankets to personally deliver to every homeless person he saw throughout Philadelphia.  His devout faith and charitable contributions to and through the Greek Orthodox Church will continue in his legacy.  Nick was honored to become a member of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and his faith in God kept him grounded and calm in his final days.

Nick was a risk taker, repeatedly cheating death as he lived life to the absolute fullest.  Nick was a loving husband, father, grandfather, gardener, engineer, avid fisherman, unorthodox golfer, backgammon enthusiast, Greek dessert connoisseur, and puzzle solver.  His gentleness and warmth provided for a special bond reserved especially for his granddaughters.  

Family and friends are invited to call Thursday October 17, 2024 from 10-11am at St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church, 35 N. Malin Rd., Broomall, PA 19008.  His funeral service will begin promptly at 11am.  Interment to follow in Laurel Hill West Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, PA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to:  St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church "For Those in Need" Fund. https://www.st-luke.org/    or the charity of your choosing.