Necrology

Daniel Joseph Nicholas '37

Mar. 4, 1914-Feb. 6, 2006

Daniel Joseph Nicholas ’37, an accountant and cost and budget control specialist long employed by the General Electric Co., was born on March 4, 1914, in Maynard, MA. A son of Joseph M. and Julia Hettie Nicholas, he was reared by his mother in Utica, NY, after the death of his father, a barber. Dan Nicholas, who worked to assist his family financially while attending Utica Free Academy and after his graduation in 1931, came up the Hill from East Utica in 1933. He excelled academically, especially in Greek and philosophy, and was awarded the Winchell Prize in Greek. A member of the debate team, he also won the McKinney Prize Declamation. Elected to Phi Beta Kappa, he was graduated with honors in 1937.

That year, Dan Nicholas began his 41-year career with GE in Schenectady, NY. Married on June 26, 1938, to Tessie Abraham in his hometown of Utica, he continued to reside in Schenectady with his wife until her death in 2002, and subsequently until his own death. While with GE, he served for many years beginning in 1963 as administrator of cost and budget control at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, a government-owned facility operated by GE. During his tenure there, he watched the Laboratory grow into one of the world’s foremost developers of nuclear propulsion power for naval submarines and surface ships under the watchful eye of Admiral Hyman Rickover.

Dan Nicholas, who retired from GE in 1979, found much enjoyment over the years in participating in local youth athletic programs. He became involved when his son, a sports enthusiast, was growing up, and it led to a long-term commitment that extended through the school years of his grandchildren. Besides serving as an organizer and president of the Bellevue Little League, he became president of the Schenectady Parks and Recreation Baseball League. In retirement, he also contributed much time to assist his church, Immaculate Conception, with its administrative work, preparing church and school payrolls as well as reports.

Long ill, Daniel J. Nicholas, a faithful alumnus, died on February 6, 2006, at his home in Schenectady, in his 92nd year. He is survived by a son, Daniel J. Nicholas, Jr.; a daughter, Kathleen A. Ferrucci; and five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

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