James W. Parash

James William Parash of Southampton passed away peacefully on August 31, 2021.

Born February 6, 1936, in an apartment above the Candy Kitchen in Bridgehampton to Greek immigrants William and Nicoleta Parash, Jim 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. Jim 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, Jim joined the Army where he spent 2 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, Jim returned to Mattituck and found that his dad had come through on a promise. In his senior year of high school, Jim’s dad asked him if he wanted to go to college or start a new luncheonette business with him. Jim 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. Jim’s dream began when Sips opened for business in May of 1958. In 1960, Jim’s brother Paul returned to help run the family business, and the two became fixtures of Southampton.

Shortly after opening Sip’n Soda, Jim 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.

Jim 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.

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

We extend our deepest gratitude to Rachel Radtke whose love and dedication will never be forgotten and, most recently, to the compassionate caregivers at The Kanas Center in Westhampton.

The Rite of Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, at 10 am at Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, Southampton with Fr. Alex Karloutsos and Fr. Constantine Lazarakis officiating followed by interment at the Southampton Cemetery. Visitation hours will take place Monday, September 6, 2021, from 5:00 - 8:00 pm 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 Jim’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.

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