Obituary of Harold E Nichols

Harold Edwin Nichols was born February 8, 1948 in St. Michael's, Maryland. He was raised by his parents, the late Mary E. Nichols-Thomas and Joseph H. Nichols, Jr. As a child Harold was an avid and very successful participant in track and field through the Police Activity League and Public Scholastic Athletic League. It was during his Junior High School years that Harold developed his love for playing baseball and football. While attending Junior High School at PS 16 Harold showed considerable interest in Art. Harold was encouraged by his mother Mary, guidance counselors and several teachers to apply to the High School of Art & Design in Manhattan. After submitting a portfolio and impromptu testing of several areas of art, Harold was accepted. Upon receiving his High School Diploma, Harold was very interested in attending college and was admitted to the Queens College Upward Bound program. After one year Harold was accepted at Voorhees College in Denmark, South Carolina. While attending Voorhees College, Harold was named captain of the Voorhees Baseball team and won several Most Valuable Player awards. While playing for Voorhees several competing schools offered him athletic scholarships and in his junior year Harold was offered a tryout with the Atlanta Braves. During the tryout Harold excelled in all areas except hitting. In his Freshman year Harold met Miss White Rose, Emma Jane Brooks and they began dating. By their senior year Emma and Harold were married. After graduating Harold and his family returned to New York and began working in the Legal Department of J.C. Penney. Harold and Emma ultimately settled in Uniondale, NY, where all of his children attended school. Harold enjoyed watching his daughters participate in sporting competitions throughout the years. Harold also served as a softball umpire for many of the high school games in Nassau County. He didn’t hesitate to fill in as an umpire at one of his daughter’s high school softball games. Not showing any favoritism, he called a third strike on his own child. Declaring that the pitch was in the strike zone. Not surprisingly all of his daughters are baseball fans, although they each root for different teams. While working at J.C. Penney during the week, on the weekends Harold split his time between obtaining his Paralegal Certification on Saturdays and and playing baseball doubleheaders on Sundays. In 1988, J.C. Penney relocated its Corporate Office to Plano, Texas and Harold began working for Inspiration Resources Corporation's corporate department for the Corporate Secretary and Associate General Counsel. Harold worked as a Consultant for many Fortune 500 companies. While working as a Consultant Harold opened his own business, All Nick's Fences sometimes enlisting the services of his children. In May 2000, Harold was offered and accepted the position of Senior Restricted Stock Analyst at Salomon Smith Barney, where he remained until his retirement. Harold had a really big heart and instilled in his family the value of education, carrying yourself with dignity, respect and the art of negotiation. Celebrating his life is: his wife, Emma Nichols of Uniondale, NY; sister, Gloria D. Murrill of Reistertown, Maryland; four daughters: Sherri Nichols of Coram, NY, Nichelle Nichols, Charmaine Nichols and Aisha Nichols, of Uniondale, NY; six brother-in-laws: Jimmy Brooks of Taylor’s, SC, James Oliver Brooks, Roosevelt Brooks, Jerry Brooks and Jonathan Brooks of Greenville, SC and Robert Murrill of Reistertown, MD; grandson, Sharif Xavier Murray, Jr. of Coram, NY; aunt, Gloria Caldwell of Philadelphia, PA; uncle, James Bell of Dover, DE; two nephews: Joseph A. Nichols, Jr., and Jason Van Slyke; two nieces: Lauren Van Slyke and Amalia Murrill and a host of cousins, other relatives and friends. Preceded in death is: his mother, Mary E. Nichols-Thomas, father Joseph H. Nichols, Jr., brother, Joseph A. Nichols, Sr., and son, Harold E. Nichols, Jr.