Nick Karabatsos Obituary

Nick Karabatsos was born on November 4, 1930 in Chicago Illinois, and died on January 5, 2026, at The Denver Hospice in Denver, Colorado. He was the eldest of two sons born to James and Christine Karabatsos, who immigrated to the United States from Greece. Chicago, the city of his upbringing, and his Greek heritage, were lifelong sources of pride for Nick. He remained a stubbornly loyal fan of the Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs throughout his life.

Nick attended Richard T. Crane Technical High School and the University of Illinois Chicago. He earned several degrees from the University of Illinois: B.S. from the College of Pharmacy, followed by an M.S. and Ph.D. from the College of Medicine, Department of Microbiology. It was also in Chicago that he met his future wife, Shirley Anderson on a blind date arranged by a mutual friend.

After receiving his Ph.D., Nick and Shirley moved to Connecticut, where he became a Research Associate at the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at the Yale University School of Medicine. In 1975 he continued his career in Fort Collins, Colorado, at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the Division of Vector-Borne Viral Diseases.

Nick’s professional accomplishments were vast. He served as the Curator of Viruses and Reagents for the WHO International Reference Centre for Arboviruses from 1965-1975, authored and contributed to over 100 publications, served as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Information Exchange for the American Committee on Arthropod-borne Viruses. He also served as an Abstract Editor; Chief,Diagnostic and Reagent Section and received numerous certificates of recognition for his scientific contributions.

Despite his dedication to research, Nick excelled in many other areas of life. Nick and Shirley lived in Fort Collins, Colorado for over 30 years, where Nick developed a running practice which led him to complete several half marathons and at least 4 full marathons. In his final days he shared that his favorite was the marathon he ran in Steamboat Springs. He also had a deep love for jazz music, which he shared enthusiastically with his daughters and their families. A volunteer stint at the KCSU radio station enabled him to further immerse himself in the jazz community.

In 2008 Nick and Shirley moved to Denver, Colorado to be closer to family. There they relished attending their local granddaughters’ events, pitching in as needed. While Nick’s family takes tremendous pride in his many accomplishments, he was, above all, a loving and caring father, grandfather and friend. He never missed an opportunity to express his love, even as loved ones gathered at his bedside. His interest in others was always genuine.

Nick is survived by his daughters Jocelyn Ehrhardt (David), Laurel (Jeff Hargrove) Kristen Roy (Don), grandchildren Ben, Amanda, Hannah, Emma and Elizabeth and great grandchildren Georgia and Miles. Nick was predeceased by his wife, Shirley Karabatsos and his brother, Angelo Karabatsos.

In memory of Nick, a donation can be made to one of the organizations he charitably supported: 

American Civil Liberties Union

Southern Poverty Law Center

National Organization for Women

KUVO Jazz Public Radio

University of Illinois Alumni Association