Chef Nick Danellis Memorial Fund
Donation protected
Executive Chef, Nick Danellis
July 19, 1976 – January 19, 2016
On Tuesday morning, January 19, Executive Chef Nick Danellis, passed away from a heart attack while getting ready for work. Nick was 39 years old. He was the son of Mary Danellis, husband to Antoinette Bibis, father to Alexander (19 months), stepfather to Alina Marie Peña (19 years old), brother, uncle, cousin, godfather, chef, and friend.
Nick’s fear-inducing passion was the driving force in executing his vision of perfection. Nick never cut corners and stubbornly ensured that others did the same. Nick consistently pushed you to do better because you knew that he was always at his best. He would never tell you what to do but, would always show you how to do it. He led by example and gained enormous respect by everyone that was lucky enough to work with him.
He knew that a successful restaurant was not just created by the food in the kitchen, but by the success of the restaurant as a whole. He understood the importance of a cohesive relationship between the front and heart of the house. The knowledge that he gained in his younger years as a Wine Steward and Floor Captain at the James Beard House provided him valuable skills that he utilized daily as a dynamic leader as a Line Cook at the Soho House New York, Sous Chef at Ammos Esthiatorio and eventually as the Executive Chef at Isabella’s, a Mediterranean Restaurant on the Upper West Side.
The only thing that could distract Nick from his kitchen was a picture of his son. You could feel the pride radiating from Nick whenever he would share a picture, video or story about Alexander with others. He loved and adored Antoinette and was so excited to continue growing their family together.
Spending quality time with his family in Greece, was what Nick most looked forward to each summer. Nick was happiest spending long days on the beaches in Mykonos lying in the sun, laughing and swimming in the sea. Nick was always finding ways to improve the lives for those that he loved and cared for, whether it was shoveling snow before a long day at work, working on home projects or constructing toys for Alexander.
As the family patriarch, Nick selflessly led his life for the betterment of others. We are raising money for Alexander and Antoinette because this father, husband, son, uncle, chef, and friend was taken from this world too soon. Nick had a vision of the future that he was creating for his family and sadly will not be able to complete this vision himself. Please help us in raising our goal to support Antoinette and Alexander to give them the life that Nick would want them to have.
Viewing
Monday, January 25 from 4:00 - 8:00pm
Farenga Funeral Home
3808 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105
(Steinway and 38th)
Funeral
Tuesday, January 26 at 9:30am
St. Catherine & St. George Church
22-30 33rd St, New York, NY 11105
(Behind Key Foods on 33rd Street between Ditmars and 23rd Ave)
July 19, 1976 – January 19, 2016
On Tuesday morning, January 19, Executive Chef Nick Danellis, passed away from a heart attack while getting ready for work. Nick was 39 years old. He was the son of Mary Danellis, husband to Antoinette Bibis, father to Alexander (19 months), stepfather to Alina Marie Peña (19 years old), brother, uncle, cousin, godfather, chef, and friend. Nick’s fear-inducing passion was the driving force in executing his vision of perfection. Nick never cut corners and stubbornly ensured that others did the same. Nick consistently pushed you to do better because you knew that he was always at his best. He would never tell you what to do but, would always show you how to do it. He led by example and gained enormous respect by everyone that was lucky enough to work with him.
He knew that a successful restaurant was not just created by the food in the kitchen, but by the success of the restaurant as a whole. He understood the importance of a cohesive relationship between the front and heart of the house. The knowledge that he gained in his younger years as a Wine Steward and Floor Captain at the James Beard House provided him valuable skills that he utilized daily as a dynamic leader as a Line Cook at the Soho House New York, Sous Chef at Ammos Esthiatorio and eventually as the Executive Chef at Isabella’s, a Mediterranean Restaurant on the Upper West Side.
The only thing that could distract Nick from his kitchen was a picture of his son. You could feel the pride radiating from Nick whenever he would share a picture, video or story about Alexander with others. He loved and adored Antoinette and was so excited to continue growing their family together. Spending quality time with his family in Greece, was what Nick most looked forward to each summer. Nick was happiest spending long days on the beaches in Mykonos lying in the sun, laughing and swimming in the sea. Nick was always finding ways to improve the lives for those that he loved and cared for, whether it was shoveling snow before a long day at work, working on home projects or constructing toys for Alexander.As the family patriarch, Nick selflessly led his life for the betterment of others. We are raising money for Alexander and Antoinette because this father, husband, son, uncle, chef, and friend was taken from this world too soon. Nick had a vision of the future that he was creating for his family and sadly will not be able to complete this vision himself. Please help us in raising our goal to support Antoinette and Alexander to give them the life that Nick would want them to have.Viewing
Monday, January 25 from 4:00 - 8:00pm
Farenga Funeral Home
3808 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105
(Steinway and 38th)
Funeral
Tuesday, January 26 at 9:30am
St. Catherine & St. George Church
22-30 33rd St, New York, NY 11105
(Behind Key Foods on 33rd Street between Ditmars and 23rd Ave)
Organizer and beneficiary
Hannah Ellstrom
Organizer
Astoria, NY
Antoinette Bibis
Beneficiary