James William Parash Of Southampton Dies August 31

James William Parash of Southampton died peacefully on August 31. He was 85.

Born February 6, 1936, in an apartment above the Candy Kitchen in Bridgehampton to Greek immigrants William and Nicoleta Parash, Mr. Parash lived almost his entire life on the East End of Long Island.

His early years were spent in Bridgehampton, while his parents owned and operated the Candy Kitchen from 1925 to 1946. From there, the family moved to Jacksonville, Florida, for four years, and then returned to Long Island and opened up Paradise Sweet Shop on Love Lane in Mattituck. Mr. Parash spent his days after school and all his summers working with his family behind the counter doing what he loved. He graduated from Mattituck High School in 1954, where he was an avid soccer and basketball player, and entertainer in the school’s vaudeville shows.

After graduation, Mr. Parash joined the U.S. Army, where he spent two years at the Nike Air Base in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. There, he met life-long friends Jack Haire from Lubbock, Texas, and Charlie Alberto from Livingston, New Jersey.

In 1957, Mr. Parash returned to Mattituck and found that his dad had come through on a promise. In his senior year of high school, Mr. Parash’s dad asked him if he wanted to go to college or start a new luncheonette business with him. Mr. Parash told his father he wanted to go into the luncheonette business. The rest, as they say, is history. They purchased land on Hampton Road in Southampton and began plans to build and open Sip ’n Soda. Mr. Parash’s dream began when Sips opened for business in May of 1958. In 1960, Mr. Parash’s brother Paul returned to help run the family business, and the two became fixtures of Southampton.

Shortly after opening Sip ’n Soda, Mr. Parash met the love of his life, Beatrice Pappas, at a Greek dance at the Canoe Place Inn in Hampton Bays. It was love at first sight for both of them. They would have celebrated their 60th anniversary in October.

Mr. Parash dedicated his life to his family and friends and the work he loved. He never forgot the lessons he learned from his humble and hard-working parents and their determination and drive to live the American Dream.

Mr. Parash is survived by his loving wife, Bea; and their children Jamie and her husband John Kaiser of Fairfield, Connecticut, Bill and his wife Beatrix Parash of Southampton, and Nicole Guillo of Southampton; his grandchildren Eleni, Anna, and Caliope Kaiser, James and Sebastian Parash, and Sophia, Paul and Ava Guillo; many nieces and nephews; as well as customers and friends he enjoyed serving for over 60 years. He was predeceased by his brother Paul.

The family wished to extend their deepest gratitude to Rachel Radtke, whose love and dedication will never be forgotten, they said, and, most recently, to the compassionate caregivers at the Kanas Center in Westhampton.

The Rite of Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, September 7, at 10 a.m. at Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in Southampton with Father Alex Karloutsos and Father Constantine Lazarakis officiating, followed by interment at the Southampton Cemetery. Visitation hours will take place Monday, September 6, from 5-8 p.m. at the church.

The O’Connell-Rothwell Funeral Home, 30 Little Plains Road, Southampton, has been entrusted with the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mr. Parash’s memory to East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978 or Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, 111 St. Andrews Road, Southampton, NY 11968.