Nicholas L. Kontax, Sr.

Nicholas Leonard Kontax, Sr. a resident of Miramar, FL died suddenly on October 22, 2020 at age 72. Nick was born on June 18, 1948 in Portland, OR, the oldest child of Niketas and Gertrude Kontax. He lost his father at the tender age of 10, and was raised by his mother. He spent his humble childhood exploring the streets of Portland on his bicycle alongside his brother Kimon, often returning home to fresh-baked treats. In 1967 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam. Upon returning, he attended Portland State University and graduated in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. He was a thrill-seeker as a young man; he loved riding his motorcycle, hang gliding, sailing, and scuba diving. His spirit of adventure brought him to Mexico where he remained for a year, and learned to speak Spanish. In 1979 he moved to Puerto Rico, and taught English at an adult education center. One of his students was Omaira Rodriguez, his future wife. They married in 1982, and two years later welcomed their first daughter, Carla. A year later they moved to South Florida where Nick found employment as an adult education teacher as well as a night auditor at a resort. In 1986, their second child, Nicholas Jr. was born. While working at his full-time evening job, Nick completed a Master's Program in Public Health at FIU. In 1989, Nick and Omaira's youngest daughter, Jennifer was born. Shortly thereafter, Nick began his long career in civil service for Broward County. He worked in the Department of Planning and Environmental Protection, where he remained until his retirement in 2015. Nick was the consummate neighbor; he was incredibly generous with his time and eager to share his innate talent for fixing things. He was known for his expert handiness - whether it be building a gadget for one of the kids' school projects, changing the brakes on a coworker's car, or recovering a hard drive for a friend. He maintained a voracious appetite for learning, consistently curious about the world and acquiring new skills. He freely extended his opinion, whether or not it was solicited. He was a lover of news and politics, and a lifelong proponent of the afternoon nap. He could often be found making trips to Home Depot and riding his motorcycle. He took careful care of his lawn, and loved watching telenovelas, classic movies, and Hallmark Christmas specials. He had a passion for the natural world - he enjoyed visiting National Parks, birding in his neighborhood, and feeding the local stray cats. A model of goodness, he taught his children the concepts of kindness and a strong work ethic. He fostered their imagination, and supported their ambitions. He held high expectations, which were matched by his loving nature. When they left home, he was always only a phone call away from solving whatever latest crisis befell them. Nick is survived by his three children, Carla, Nicholas (wife: Jessica), and Jennifer. He is preceded in death by his wife, Omaira, his father Niketas, his mother Gertrude, his brother Kimon, and his aunt Winifred J. Bausili. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that everyone exercise their right to vote. Nick always valued the importance of voting. They also ask that you consider making a charitable donation to the National Park Foundation (https://www.nationalparks.org/support). Nick was passionate about the environment and loved the outdoors.