John
Kennedy Nicholson, 62,
beloved husband, father,
brother and uncle, died July
9, 2010, at the University
of Utah hospital.John grew up in a loving family in Lawrence, Kan. At age 13, he traveled throughout Europe for a year with his parents. This trip unlocked a passion and curiosity for "how cities work" that would lead him to his profession as an urban planner. At the University of Kansas, where he obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees, he met the love of his life, Jane, and the two were married in 1970.
Feeling a draw to the Mountain West, they moved to Casper, Wyo., then to Salt Lake City, and 31 years ago to Logan.
A 30-year career as associate professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning at Utah State University was fulfilling in every way. He loved working with inspiring colleagues (many of them close friends) and with so many bright students over the years. He embraced the challenges and continuous learning that came with the position.
Some of the most satisfying professional experiences for John included: working on the Salt Lake City Olympic bid in the early 1980s (which helped pave the way for the successful 2002 bid), two Fulbright teaching fellowships in Germany (1987-88 in Bremen, 1994 in Dresden), developing and fostering an exchange program between the landscape architecture programs at USU and the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, planning/leading several spring break study trips for LAEP students to Paris and Berlin, and several stints as a guest professor in the Master of Landscape Architecture program in Bernburg, Germany. His many experiences in Germany, most often with Jane, a German teacher, led to a knowledge and love of the culture, fluency of the language and lasting cross-cultural friendships.
John loved
Logan and wanted to
contribute to the community
by making it an even better
place. He served many years
on the Historic Preservation
Commission, the Downtown
Alliance, and most recently
the Bicycle/Pedestrian
Commission.
John had many talents and
interests: gifted musician,
designer and woodworker,
enthusiastic athlete
(windsurfer, skier, biker
...) "yurt"
designer/builder,
fly-fisherman, adventure
planner for the family - but
perhaps his most impressive
talent was in raising two
wonderful, loving sons who
want always to honor his
memory.
Diagnosed almost two years
ago with lung cancer, John
continued to live life to
the fullest. He made it his
mission to be active every
day, taking daily ski tours,
bike rides or hikes. The joy
experiencing the beauty of
nature brought was a
powerful cancer antidote. He
was an inspiration to all
who watched as he faced the
physical and emotional
challenges of really LIVING
with a terminal diagnosis.
John is survived by his
wife, Jane; and sons,
Patrick and Paul. His
passing leaves a mighty void
in their lives, but the
countless memories of his
beautiful life will help
sustain them.
In lieu of flowers, John
would prefer a donation to
the John Nicholson
Scholarship Fund for
graduate students in the
Department of Landscape
Architecture and
Environmental Planning, Utah
State University, 4005 Old
Main Hill, Logan, UT
84322-4005.
