BANGOR – Nicholas Peter Brountas Esq. passed away peacefully Monday, April 7, 2008, surrounded by his loving family six days before he was to turn 85 years old. Born April 13, 1923, in Bangor, Nicholas was the eldest son of the late Peter N. Brountas and the late Penelope (Spiropoulos) Brountas who owned and managed Peter’s Candlelighter Restaurant in the McGuire Building on Main Street, Bangor. A lifelong resident and professional of Bangor, Nick graduated from Bangor High School, the University of Maine at Orono, and Yale Law School. He was also a U.S. veteran, serving during World War II in the Pacific and Far East Theatres with the 5th Air Force. Upon finishing law school in 1956, Nicholas joined forces with his cousin, Louis V. Vafiades, and opened a Bangor law firm. They practiced law together as an association from 1957 to 1972. The law firm of Vafiades, Brountas & Kominsky, LLP was formed in 1971. Nick was a member of the Penobscot, Maine and American Bar Associations as well as a fellow of the Maine Bar Foundation. From 1993 to 2001, he served as a member and chairman of Maine State Judicial Ethics Committee. In June 2007, he was presented with Maine State Bar Association Life Member Award for 50 years of service. Nicholas was an active member of his community and committed to public service. During the early 1960s he was chairman of Bangor Zoning Board of Appeals and chairman of Bangor Heart Fund Drive. He was also a member of Salvation Army Advisory Council and a member of Bangor/Brewer Tuberculosis and Health Association. Nick was elected to Bangor City Council in the fall of 1961 and served as mayor in 1964. He remained on Bangor City Council until 1967 and in 1968 he served on Bangor Housing Authority and finished his service on that board in 1970 when he was chairman. Nicholas is survived by his wife, Helen; and his two sons, David N. Brountas of Waltham, Mass., and Nicholas P. Brountas Jr. of New York City, and their spouses. In addition, Nick is survived by his sister, Helen Nichols of Roslindale, Mass.; his brothers, Paul Brountas of Weston, Mass., and Arthur Brountas of Bangor, and their families. Nick also leaves two grandchildren, Charles Theodore and Nicholas James Brountas, who were the light of his life. Nicholas was also brother of the late George P. Brountas of Bangor, and Georgia Leakos of Hampden. Nick will also leave behind many cousins, nephews and nieces, all of whom he loved deeply. Nick will be missed by his friends and family. He will be remembered for his dedication to and love of his family, his clients and the practice of law. Visiting hours will be private Friday at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor. A private funeral service will be held Saturday, April 12, at St. George Greek Orthodox Church with the Rev. Adam Metropoulos, presbyter, presiding. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor. Those who wish to remember Nick in a special way may make gifts in his memory to Bangor Public Library, 145 Harlow St., Bangor, ME 04401 or to St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 90 Sanford St., Bangor, ME 04401. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
NICHOLAS P. BROUNTAS
