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CHINTIS -- Nicholas Chintis, 90, of Silver City, passed away in Tucson, AZ December 13, 2007. Memorial Services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday December 28, 2007 at Bright Funeral Home with Reverend Karl Giese officiating. Interment will follow at Ft. Bayard National Cemetery with full Military Honors by American Legion Post #18 and VFW Post #3347. Mr. Chintis was born May 26, 1917 in Chicago, IL. He was the son of Peter and Sophie (Sarafin) Chintis. He is survived by one sister, Rose Ruff; one brother ,Tom Chintis; two sons, Michael W. Chintis; Dr. Steven B. Chintis; two step-sons, Dougan Anderson; Dr. Jonathon Anderson; three grandchildren, Candice Jacob; Alan Chintis and Andy Chintis; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Mark Alan Chintis; his wife of twenty years, Winifred Watkins Chintis and his wife of forty-three years, Jeanne Anderson Chintis. After graduating from Hammond High School with numerous athletic achievements, he was recruited by two recently hired coaches (Ray Brancheau and Kenneth Gunning) and moved to Silver City where he enrolled in New Mexico State Teachers College. There he played basketball on the storied team that beat the Jackie Robinson lead UCLA Bruins in 1940. Football was probably his best sport. He was inducted in Western New Mexico University Hall of Fame in 1988, based on his two All Conference years in 1939 and 1940. During WWII, he and many of his college friends joined the National Guard. After training at Ft. Bliss Army Base, the famed"200th" was deployed to the Philippines to defend Clark Field Air Base against the impending Japanese invasion. This defense against all likely chances of success has been the basis of many books and military accounts. They were forced to surrender to the Japanese and the Bataan Death march ensued. He was a POW for three and one half years. The atrocities of the Bataan Death March are well known and Nick was instrumental in providing testimony on behalf of the U. S. Government during the war crime trials. This experience shaped the remainder of Nick's life. He was decorated with a Bronze Star, two Presidential Unit Citations and a Purple Heart and honorably discharged from the Army as a Staff Sergeant. Returning to his beloved Grant County, he became a leader in the public education system starting as a junior high teacher in Bayard in 1948. He then became supervisor of Grant County Schools from 1951-1953 and on to Western New Mexico University in may director level positions including: Director of Alumni, Placement, Financial Aids and Scholarships and Admissions. One of his favorite jobs involved high school relations and student recruitment. Over the years he developed many friends and was responsible for recruiting many students to Western New Mexico University. His educational accomplishments included a BS in Education, MS in Administration and MS in Guidance and Counseling. Mr. Chintis loved New Mexico and all it had to offer. He married a local girl before the war, Winifred Watkins, and gave his total effort to improving education in Grant County while raising a family of three boys. In 1963 he married Jeanne Anderson and the "yours-mine-ours" family was born. Nick and Jeanne remained devoted to each other until death and toured the world taking pictures and entertaining their family with travel stories. He will be remembered by all as a generous, caring person who loved his family and friends and served his country and community with honor. Bright Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.
        Published on: Wed December 26, 2007