Lerikos, James Dinos, age 85, of Antigonish passed away on June 5, 2026, in St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, Antigonish.

Jim had many passions, but his greatest was his family. Always an exceptional father, grandfather, uncle, brother, mentor, and friend, he held those he loved close and was a guiding presence in all of our lives.

Jim loved the outdoors and spent much of his time in the woods and waters of this world. He had a deep appreciation for nature that he shared with those closest to him. When not out in nature, Jim could be found in his woodworking shop listening to his music and creating works of art that will grace our homes for years to come.

Born in Montreal, Quebec, he was a son of the late Anastasios "Tom" and Politimi "Pauline" (Adamakis) Lerikos.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara (Langley), devoted children, Tom (Caroline), Cayman Islands; Angela (Stephen), Antigonish; Paula (Shawn), New Glasgow; treasured grandchildren, Alexander, Drew, Julia, Erin, Gregory, Jamie, and Jack; brothers, Tom (Lyn), Blue Mountain, Ont; Sam (Margaret), Knowlton, Que; George (Mary Elizabeth), Antigonish; sister, Vicky, Toronto, Ont; and cherished cousins, and nieces and nephews.

He is predeceased by his parents and his dear cousin Lillian Adamakis.

Jim was born into a loving Greek family who kept Greek traditions alive. These he remained connected to until his death. He was fortunate to have wonderful parents and a loving, caring Papou (grandfather). Quebec was good to Jim; he had lots of friends and learned to play music there. After high school, Jim attended StFX University where he made lifelong friends and met the love of his life, Barbara. StFX changed Jim- it had a profound impact on the way his life developed. Upon graduation, Jim went to work for DuPont, Canada in marketing research. Jim both loved and excelled at this job, but he knew the Martimes were calling.

While vacationing in Antigonish, he and Barb went driving up Main Street and saw the "For Sale" sign being tacked to The Wagon Wheel. With the help of his parents and Barb’s, he purchased it. The journey to success was arduous, but with the help of his father he made it. Jim sold the first pizza in Antigonish, a recipe he developed, and it was an instant hit. The Wheel remains an Antigonish landmark today. Several years later, Jim’s vision of a seafood restaurant in Antigonish was fulfilled with the help of his brother, George. The Lobster Treat was another success, and a few years later Jim sold his shares to his brother and moved on to other business ventures. None of this would have been possible without the stalwart support of his wife Barbara, who was by his side no matter the venture.       

Jim was an artist at heart. In his teenage years, Jim took up the drums- this marked the beginning of a lifelong passion for music, and he even studied at the Conservatory of Quebec. Jim loved the outdoors, including gardening, fishing, hunting, and skiing. Morristown was a special place for Jim. There he felt whole, and it was the place for lobster dinners, planked salmon, and family celebrations. In retirement, Jim returned to the beach where he pursued his passions and built a beautiful home with Barbara. One of the joys of retirement was being able to spend time with his grandchildren; especially at the beach. While he was never much of a traveller, he loved going to the Cayman Islands to visit his son and his family.

Jim was heavily involved in both nature preservation and culture. He was instrumental in the creation of Festival Antigonish, part of the Antigonish Tourist Association, and a strong supporter of the Victoria Order of Nursing among many other organizations. Jim was also a steward of the environment, working with Ducks Unlimited, the Atlantic Salmon Federation, and the Antigonish Rivers Association to restore and conserve ecological integrity.

Cremation has taken place, and visitation will be held Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9pm in C.L. Curry Funeral Home, 135 College Street, Antigonish.  A Celebration of Jim’s Life will be held Wednesday at 2pm in the East Coast Credit Union Social Enterprise Centre, 75 St. Ninian Street, Antigonish.

In Memoriam, donations to the Victoria Order of Nurses are appreciated.

Online condolences:  www.clcurry.com