Mr. Nicholas Tridemas

June 7, 1926 - August 3, 2018

Nicholas Tridemas was an artist. He was a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend. He was a mentor to hundreds of men and women, a lifelong seeker and spiritual guide. Born in Philadelphia, PA on June 7, 1926 to Greek immigrants, George and Georgia Tridemas. Nick attended West Chester High School where he won the Gimble's Brothers Award for Art. Upon graduation, he headed off to serve in the United States 29th Marine Corps at the battle of Okinawa in WWII. Nick was fortunate to be in the first class to receive funds from the G.I. Bill. He gratefully accepted this war benefit and enrolled in the Philadelphia Museum School of Art (now the University of the Arts). Nick then served as advertising executive at many top agencies in Philadelphia, New York and Chicago. He took a leap of faith in 1974 to form his own agency, Tridemas Design Inc. where his daughter Marta Williamson later joined him. Together they created branding for products such as Lactaid, Beano-O and DuPont Automotive. Working in the advertising and design business and interacting with photographers gave Nick the incentive to study photography. He began his longtime hobby in this medium during the 1970's. Upon retiring in 1998 Nick turned his full attention to making art. A perpetual learner and experimenter, he studied various techniques at the Fleischer Art Memorial, The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, and the James Dupree Art Studios. His body of work reflects these influences, his love of nature and people, travels to Greece, the urban landscape, and uncommon observations of everyday life. He also liked to strike up conversations with people having diverse backgrounds - Philadelphians and tourists alike - and bring home these stories to his wife of 31 years, Kathy McNelis. Nick passed away peacefully at home with Kathy after bravely facing a long series of illnesses. Many of Nick's family and friends supported him and celebrated his life with him in the last weeks and months. Nick is survived by his wife Kathy; daughters Hilary (Mark Lyons), Marta (Peter Williamson) and son Matthew; sisters Olympia Ganoudis and Linda Faraci; four grandchildren; Mia Williamson, Andrew Lyons (Marie), Walker Lyons (Stacie), and Tessa Lyons; and three great-grandchildren; James, Abbey, and Wesley. For over 45 years of Nick helped hundreds of people "trudge the road of happy destiny", one day at a time, on their road to recovery from alcoholism. He enriched and saved many lives. A celebration of Nick's life will be held on Saturday, August 11, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church, 916 Swanson St., Philadelphia, PA 19147. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Brewerytown-Fairmount Clubhouse, Inc., 2044 Fairmount Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19130 (keeping the doors of recovery open for over 20 years).