Nicholas Moutis Obituary

Nicholas P. Moutis, age 96, beloved husband, father, grandfather and uncle died peacefully at his home in Exeter, NH on June 21, 2025. Nick was born on March 21,. 1929 in Newark, NJ.The fourth of four children, to Jennie (Kakounis) and Peter Moutis, immigrants from Sparta, Greece. He attended Coes Place and Morton Street Grammar schools and South Side High School in Newark. After graduating High School and completing his military service in the U.S. Army, he attended Springfield College in Springfield, MA on the G.I. Bill. He received a B.S. degree in physical education from Springfield College in 1952, and a M.S. degree from the University of Illinois in 1953. He was awarded a Ph.D. degree from the University of Oregon in 1967 and did additional graduate work at NYU, Seton Hall and Columbia University.Nick was Director of Physical Education at Nichols College in Dudley, MA from 1953-54. He joined the faculty of Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter,N.H. in 1954. In 1955 he married Evangeline (Van) Gevas of Newark, N.J. They had three children Peter, Daphne and Christopher.While at Exeter Nick was Director of Physical Education at the summer school 1961-62. He served as Chairman of the department of Physical Education and Director of Athletics from 1965-71 and was the impetus behind the design and construction of a 7 million dollar athletic complex as part of Phillips Exeter's "Long Step Forward" program 1967-70.From 1971-77 Nick served as Director of Special Athletic Programs featuring summer camps for young athletes in Basketball, Ice Hockey and Soccer.In January of 1978, Nick joined the faculty of Springfield College as the Director of the Division of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.He also served as consultant to the Raytheon Corporation on the architectural planning and construction of new Raytheon recreational facilities worldwide.This included travel to sites in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Athens, Greece.Nick was also a consultant for athletic facilities construction and program development at Springfield College, Harvard University,Mt. Hermon School, Phillips Andover Academy, St. Paul's School, New Hampton School, Holderness School, Westminster School, Canterbury School,Chapin School, Wesleyan University, Gordon College, Lehman College, National Olympic Committee in Curacao,NA..He served as consultant to Harvard Business School for Kallman and McKinnell, architects and engineers of Boston, MA in designing a fitness and sports facility in Cambridge, MA.He was appointed to the Governor's Council on Sports and Physical Fitness for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1984-90.Nick was Director of the International Wellness Symposium in 1985 with lectures in Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto, Yokohama, Hong Kong, Taiwan. He served as a visiting professor in the school of Physical Education and Sports Science at the University of Athens, Athens, Greece in 1987.Excellence in every aspect of his life was an important cornerstone for him and he led and inspired those around him by example.He was proud of his Greek heritage and was fluent in the language.He served as an altar boy in the Greek Orthodox Church in his youth. He played football, basketball and baseball in high school.In later years he enjoyed playing the top varsity squash players at Phillips Exeter and loved playing golf with his summer coaching staff during August vacation trips to Hershey, PA. He enjoyed a 30 minute power nap everyday at noon. He woke up energized for a full afternoon of teaching and coaching. He loved big cars and drove 2 and 4 door Pontiacs his whole life. He loved the music of the swing era and had a great record collection to back it up.He bragged about cutting school on Thursdays to catch the big bands live at the Adams Theatre in downtown Newark.Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Gene Krupa. Nick was a great dancer and along with Van the two could cut a mean jitterbug on any dance floor.He and Van threw some legendary Christmas parties during the years at Phillips Exeter....full of music,laughter, Van's incredible Greek cooking and a nearly lethal mix of Vodka and Gin that Nick would mix for all the guests.Nick had 7 nieces and nephews who adored him and in his retirement years, 4 grandchildren who he doted on.He was pre- deceased by his sisters Helen Tsairis and Peggy Phillips, his brother George, his brothers -in-law Lee Tsairis, Peter Gevas and Edward Phillips, his wife Evangeline and his youngest son Christopher. He is survived by his son Peter and Daughter-in-law,Chitra of Exeter, NH and his daughter Daphne of Longmeadow, MA, sister-in-law, Olga Gevas. A Memorial Service will be held on 9/12/2025 at 11:00am at Christ Church, Pine Street Exeter, NH
Donations in his memory can be made to BILH at home Hospice at https://bilhathome.org/giving
www.brewittfuneralhome.com
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