Obituaries

Nickolas James Himonidis, 20, passed away unexpectedly on July 30, 2026. Born on July 21, 2006, in Guatemala City, Guatemala, he found his forever family in Erlanger, KY.

As a devoted brother, Nickolas often acted as the self-appointed protector of his siblings, Anthony and Ava. He liked to tease them but would lovingly defend them. Nickolas loved going to the movies with “brother Anthony” and giving his sister Ava a hard time whenever he could about anything he could, but his love and care for them both went beyond measure. His relationship with his parents was a little more nuanced, yet full of love and respect. Beyond his immediate family, Nickolas also treasured his extended family, genuinely looking forward to holiday traditions like Thanksgiving, singing Christmas carols, and family grill outs. His familial relationships are also where he honed his unique form of humor: very dry with just the right amount of sarcasm and an unabashed delivery that hit just right.

Known for his big heart, Nickolas was driven to care for those most in need of care, which resulted in the rescue of a variety of pets, from ducklings found in a box on the side of the road to a stray kitten from a job site and a rescue dog needing a loving family.

In April 2025, the greatest love of his life, his daughter, Lilah, came into the world. With her mother Kennedy Strunk, Nickolas fell in love with this beautiful gift from heaven that helped reset his focus. He never smiled brighter than when he held her for the first time and every time thereafter.

Nickolas was a fan of many sports, but his competitive spirit found a home with baseball. Whether on the field himself or sitting next to his dad watching the New York Mets, he threw himself into the action and intensity. It’s been said that he hated losing more than he loved winning. His time with the NKY Panthers, the Holy Cross Indians, and the Hut AC Indians fostered his loyalty and became his physical expression of joy. In addition to baseball, Nickolas hit the gridiron in high school. He played both offensive and defensive line for two years as a Holy Cross Indian. Other favorite past-times included playing pick-up basketball at any nearby park with friends and strangers or in his gym. From the time he was a small boy, he always had a knack for working with his hands and figuring out how to fix things. It usually involved breaking things first, but that was half the fun! He loved “doing” and turned his love of building towards the trades, finding great pride in building and creating as an electrician’s apprentice, most recently with Craftsman Electric.

Nickolas will be deeply missed by his daughter, Lilah; his parents, Christos and Emily (née Brass) Himonidis; his siblings, Anthony and Ava Himonidis; his Nana, Theresa (Greg) Kirst; his YiaYia, Ruth Himonidis; his Gigi, Irma Albanese; his aunts and uncles, Eric (Katie) Brass, Evan (Christine) Brass, Elliot (Kassidy) Brass, Greg (Lisa) Himonidis, and Beth Clifford; Kennedy Strunk, mother of Lilah, and Kennedy’s mother, Chelsea Taylor; along with many cousins, extended family members, and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his Opa, George Brass, and his Papou, Chris Himonidis.

A visitation will be held for Nickolas at St. Pius Catholic Church on Thursday, August 6th, 2026 at 9:30 am. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 am. Nickolas will be laid to rest at Mother of God Cemetery following mass.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorial donations be made in Nickolas’s memory to either of the following:

Holy Cross High School – Athletic Department
In Memory of Nickolas Himonidis, Class of 2024
3617 Church Street
Covington, KY 41017
OR
Kenton County Animal Services, honoring Nickolas’ love of animal. Kenton Cares Online Donation