Nicholas George Caranica

Nicholas George Caranica, a proud native of San Francisco, CA, born and raised, and longtime resident of Reno, NV, died on December 5, 2024, after a lengthy battle with cancer. Nick was 85. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 39 years, Stella Osipow, who passed earlier this year. 

Nick along with his twin brother, Jim, was born on August 25, 1939, in San Francisco from Macedonian parents, George and Domnita Caranica. George operated a popular restaurant in the City on the corner of Sutter and Stockton Street. 

In 1943, the family moved to Ewing Terrace in the Richmond District, where Nick and Jim had plenty of space to roam, meeting up with friends and playing basketball at every available court in the neighborhood and beyond. Following grammar and middle school, Nick and Jim both enrolled at Lowell High School. While at Lowell, Nick was a fine student and athlete, a standout basketball player for coach Ben Neff. Upon graduation in 1957, Nick attended San Francisco City College for one year before heading to San Francisco State College, graduating in 1962 with a degree in Business Administration. While at SF State, Nick reunited with Jim and they both played basketball for the Gators. Upon graduation, Nick was drafted by the US Army where he spent a year and a half prior to his discharge. 

Beginning in the 1960s, Nick worked for several trucking companies in the Bay Area. During the early 80s, he started his own trucking company while living in Lafayette. After meeting Stella Osipow in San Francisco, they married in 1985 and lived nearly 40 great years together. 

Nick and Stella moved to South Lake Tahoe in the mid 1980s where Nick was involved in home construction. Several years later they moved back to California, residing in Petaluma where they operated several businesses. Nick and Stella eventually moved to Reno in 1995. They both loved the Reno area and what it offered, including access to the outdoors and plentiful areas to fly fish, and lots of warm, friendly, welcoming people. 

Nick is survived by son Tony Caranica and granddaughter Lucy, daughter Nicole Comfort, son in law Dennis, grandson Jesse, his wife Haley and great granddaughter Opal, and granddaughter Sophia; brother Jim, niece Catherine DeRosa, her husband Craig and sons Michael and Matthew Colburn, and nephew Todd Caranica. He is also survived by the Osipow family in Stella’s sons Dan, his wife Claudine, son Benjamin and his finance Katelyn Bowles, and Eric, and his son Johnny. 

The family would like to call attention to the incredible care provided by the Reno Veterans Affairs Hospital, and thank its entire staff for their care, concern and respect of Nick and his family. In lieu of flowers, the family asks any donations are directed towards the Reno VA to further their great work: VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System, 975 Kirman Avenue, Reno, NV 89502 Attn: Community Affairs Service or call 775.829.5659. 

Additionally, Nick will be honored during the Reno VA’s Last Roll Call Ceremony of Remembrance Service on January 31, 2025. The event will take place at 1pm PST in the Tahoe Room of the Medical Center, located at 975 Kirman Avenue in Reno, for veterans, like Nick, who passed away in their care. The ceremony is open to the public and will also be recorded and posted on the Reno VA Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VAReno on or before February 7, 2025.