Nicholas Demetrios Simopoulos, M.D.

Nicholas Demetrios Simopoulos was born in the small village of Trikorfo in the Pindos Mountains of northern Greece. In 1956, at the age of sixteen, he immigrated to the United States. As his ship entered New York Harbor, the first thing he saw was the Statue of Liberty. When asked later in life what the Statue of Liberty meant to him, he answered simply, “Everything and everyone.”

Nicholas earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of New Hampshire in 1964, and his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco in 1968. He then completed his internship at Highland General Hospital in Oakland, his surgical training at UC Davis (1 year), and urology training at UC San Francisco (3 years). Before settling in the Sacramento area, he served as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy, and as Chief of Urology at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Bremerton, Washington.

Known affectionately as “Dr. Nick,” Nicholas served the communities of Placerville (Marshall Hospital), Jackson (Sutter Amador Hospital), and San Andreas (Mark Twain Hospital) for 38 years as a board-certified urologist. He was deeply loved and respected by his patients and colleagues, not only for his skill as a physician but for the compassion and humanity with which he cared for those entrusted to him.

His greatest legacy is the family he loved so deeply: his wife of 60 years, Loreine Elise Simopoulos; their four children, Demetrios Nicholas Simopoulos, Christopher Nicholas Simopoulos (Lisa), Nicole Martha Simopoulos (Joseph), and Marta Simopoulos Pickens (Dave); their ten grandchildren, Alyssa (John), Nicholas, Zachary, Joseph, Emma, Elijah, Luke, Dominic, Sofia and Julian; and one great-granddaughter, Miriam.

Nicholas was a founding member of St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church in Elk Grove, helping to establish and support a parish community that became an important part of his family’s life and faith. His commitment to the Church remained a constant throughout his life.

Later in life, Nicholas planted and nurtured nearly 400 olive trees in Camino, California. From their fruit, he pressed an olive oil he named “Eleon Theon” - “the Oil of God.”

Throughout his life, Nicholas devoted himself to the care of others, healing not only the body but touching countless lives through his compassion, generosity, and kindness. He lived as a reflection of God’s goodness - a man of expansive love, quiet strength, and selfless service.

Nicholas died peacefully surrounded by his family on August 31, 2026. He is preceded in death by his parents, Demetrios & Martha Simopoulos, and his brother, Chris Simopoulos, M.D. He is survived by his two sisters, Dr. Elpinike Karavasilis (Panos) & Athanasia Simopoulos Papanicolau (Frank), and by many beloved nieces and nephews.

For a memorial donation or in lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider a donation to:

St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church
9165 Peets Street
Elk Grove, CA 95758
www.saintkatherine.org

or

Marshall Foundation for Community Health
3581 Palmer Drive Suite 101
Cameron Park CA 95682
Attention: Memorial Gifts in Honor of Nicholas Simopoulos, M.D.

May his memory be eternal.