Nicholas A. Liontas

Nick Liontas had a wonderful and exciting life for 90 years.  Born of Greek immigrant parents, Athanasios and Eugenia Liontas, May 9, 1928 and departed this world to be reunited with his devoted, loving parents January 29, 2019.

He was a very talented athlete in high school, service sports, and the United States Naval Academy, lettering in several sports and graduating from the Naval Academy in 1952.

Nick was very proud to be an Air Force fighter pilot with the Black Sheep Squadron.  He was their top gun for two years and represented the Far East Air Force in the Worldwide Fighter Weapons Meet, winning one event, even though as a lieutenant, he was the youngest participant.

Returning stateside after tours in Korea and Japan, Nick instructed fighter gunnery at Luke AFB and ended up as Chief of Standardization and Evaluation at wing level.  One of his proudest accomplishments was evaluating the training required to produce world class fighter pilots.

After 3500 jet hours, Nick was grounded for medical reasons.  He then joined his Naval Academy football coach, Ben Martin, in Annapolis and helped produce not only great football teams, but most important, outstanding Air Force officers to serve his beloved country.

Upon retiring from the US Air Force as a Lt Col, Nick had a distinguished career as a realtor and developer.  He served on many boards, including the YMCA, his church, and was Executive Vice President of Peninsula Law University, a college of law in Mountain View, CA.  He was a member of the Colorado Springs Country Club for many years.  His proudest moments were serving on the Board of Directors of the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, rising to president of the board in both 1994 and 1995.  Nick was instrumental in providing the vision and leadership to embark on building a new shelter to better care for the animals he so dearly loved.

Nick is survived by his wife of 50 years, Barbara; his son and daughter-in-law, Christopher and Robin Liontas; daughter and son-in-law, Eugenia (Gina) and Jonathan Keller; son, Arthur Liontas; two adopted children, Toni-Leah Lopez and Richard Liontas; and beloved granddaughter, Miriam Liontas.

Funeral services to be held at 10am on Thursday, February 7th at the Air
Force Academy Cadet Chapel and burial in the Air Force Academy Cemetery. Lunch reception to follow at the Eisenhower Golf Club.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Nick’s honor to the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region or Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church.

We would like to express our gratitude to the staff at “Memory Care” at MacKenzie Place for the kindness and care they gave to Nick and our family these many months.