Nicos “Nick” Varnava: 12 Jan 1927 - 07 Feb 2025
Early Life and Family:
Nick was born in Limassol, Cyprus, one of four children. After graduating high school in 1944, he worked briefly as a factory clerk before leaving Cyprus in 1947 to pursue higher education in the United States. He began his studies at Jamestown College in North Dakota before transferring to the University of Arizona, where he distinguished himself academically, earning multiple awards. Graduating with a degree in English and minors in Spanish and psychology, Nick - who grew up speaking Greek - became fluent in both English and Spanish by the time he completed his studies. After graduating, he spent several months in Nogales, Sonora, Mex-ico before returning to the United States, where he became a citizen in February 1952.
After becoming a US citizen, Nick was drafted into the US Army. Due to his exceptional linguis-tic abilities, he was assigned as a translator and interpreter in Germany, serving from 1952 to 1954.
Following his military service, he returned to the University of Arizona to pursue a master's de-gree in education, where he reconnected with Fani Kostopoulous, a fellow student who would eventually become his wife. After completing his degree in 1958, he embarked on two of his most important journeys: starting a family and building a teaching career.
Nick and Fani married on 14 June 1959, and made their home in Oxnard, California. They shared 59 years of marriage, until her passing in 2019. They had three children, Sophie Arguel-lo (Roy), Demetrios (Andrew) Varnava (Kit), and William Varnava (Sophia). Nick and Fani also had several nieces and nephews in Greece, Cyprus, and England.
Teaching Career:
In 1956, Nick began his teaching career at Oxnard High School as a Spanish teacher before becoming one of the founding faculty members at Hueneme High School in 1959. In 1966, he joined the newly opened Channel Islands High School, where he taught Spanish, and served as the Foreign Language Department Head until he retired in 1989.
In 1964, he traveled to Ecuador to study, and received recognition from the city of Quito for his efforts. In 1969, he traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico to further his study of the Spanish lan-guage and deepen his understanding of the culture.
In 1979, Channel Islands High School nominated him as Teacher of the Year, an honor he cher-ished throughout his life.
Nick was very proud of a rewarding teaching career and was always very thankful for the nu-merous students who enriched his life. Beyond any recognition or award, his most meaningful contribution was the profound and enduring impact he had on thousands of students. Many followed in his footsteps as educators, inspired by his dedication, while his passion for teach-ing and genuine care for his students left a lasting mark on countless lives.
Religious Life:
Faith was the cornerstone of Nick's life, and his devotion to the Greek Orthodox Church re-mained unwavering. From 1952 to 2020, he faithfully served as a psalti (chanter) and member of the choir in churches in Tucson, Santa Barbara, and Ventura County. He had a beautiful singing voice, and carried out his duties with dedication every Sunday. He was an integral part of many community weddings, baptisms, funerals, and services. He helped to establish the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Camarillo as a founding member and served as its first president from 1973 to 1975. His faith inspired many to become more involved with the Church.
Post Retirement:
After retiring, Nick remained remarkably active and lived a healthy life until his final days. He taught Greek, translated, and worked on special projects for the Oxnard Union School District. A lifelong scholar, he had a deep love of learning - he was an avid Jeopardy viewer and a vora-cious reader of books and newspapers. He subscribed to the LA Times and Ventura County Star from 1954 until his passing. He was also a devoted fan of the Lakers, Dodgers, and Uni-versity of Arizona Athletics.
Nick recognized the value and importance of community, maintaining close ties with his rela-tives, friends, and fellow church members throughout his life. He was a thoughtful, steadfast presence in the lives of many, offering wisdom, kindness, and encouragement to all who knew him. Throughout his life, Nick carried a deep sense of gratitude for the people in his life and the kindness and generosity he received. Even in his final days, his words reflected the same warmth and sincerity that defined him.
He died peacefully in his sleep at home after a brief period in hospice. In addition to his chil-dren and godchildren, he is survived by grandchildren Christina Romo, Shauna Arguello, Pat-rick Varnava, Roy Arguello, Jacob Green, and Andrew Green.
Nick and his family will always be grateful for the care he received in his later years, with spe-cial appreciation for Steve Hochberger, Flory Balderama and Sara Perez.
Celebration of Life Details:
Trisagion: Monday 24 Feb 2025 at 7 PM, at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 5575 Santa Rosa Rd., Camarillo, California
Funeral Service: Tuesday 25 February 2025 at 10 AM, at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 5575 Santa Rosa Rd., Camarillo, California
Burial: Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, 5400 Valentine Rd. Ventura, California
Memorial Requests: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Demetrios Building Fund or the Ventura County Retired Teachers Association Scholarship Foundation (VCRTASF).
Arrangements are under the direction of the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, Ventura.