Nicholas Latkovic

Nicholas Marcus Latkovic, 70, known affectionately to his family and friends as Nick, passed away August 27, 2026 in Palm Desert, CA following a brief battle with cancer.  

He was born on September 28, 1955 in Cleveland, OH, the oldest of three children of Nicholas and Pauline Latkovic.  He is preceded in death by his father Nicholas and sister Georgianne Latkovic.

Nicholas is survived by his wife Rhonda; his mother Pauline Latkovic (nee Zimis); his sister Elaine Latkovic; his brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws Kurt and Robin Houk of Stow, OH and Robert and Lisa Fleming of Bridgeville, PA and many cousins, nephews, nieces, and godchildren.

Nicholas was a man of intelligence, warmth, and boundless energy.  He attended Ohio University in Athens, OH receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and he completed his Master's of Business Administration from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH.  He spent his career in manufacturing working for the United States Gypsum Corporation.  He held various positions in plant operations across the United States spanning from New Jersey to Pennsylvania to Ohio to Mississippi to Illinois and California.  Nicholas retired from USG Corp. in November 2019 to Palm Desert.  Nick and his wife Rhonda recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary.

Nicholas was a devoted Greek Orthodox Christian, and avid hiker and biker, a licensed pilot, a California State Fair award winning winemaker, and a thirty-second degree Master Mason and Shriner.  He was an active member and volunteer at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Palm Desert, helping with the annual Greek festivals throughout the years and serving on the Parish Council as treasurer and as an officer of AHEPA (American Hellenic Educational Progressive Organization).  He also volunteered regularly at the local Narrow Door Food Bank in Indio and was a volunteer at Shriner's Children's Hospital in Pasadena.  Nicholas most recently served as a Palm Desert City Commissioner and member of the Architectural Review Committee from 2022-2026.

Services will be held at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 74109 Larrea Street, Palm Desert, CA. 92260 beginning on Tuesday, September 8th at 6:00 PM with a Trisagion Service and the funeral on Wednesday, September 9th at 9:00 AM with interment to follow at Desert Memorial Park cemetery at 11:30 AM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in Nicholas's name to the endowment fund at St. George Greek Orthodox Church.  Church website:  http://stgeorge.org