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Feel free to leave a message for Nick's family and friends - it's easy to do

How to leave a message: Click edit page, above. The password is 'morris'.

Scroll to below the last entry, and write on this page as you would an MS Word page.

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Dear Terry and Thomas,

I know the office sent condolences, but I wanted to personally tell you how very sorry I was to hear about Nick. I certainly enjoyed him each and every time he visited our office. We could always count on a bright, and cheerful mood, even though it wasn't exactly where he wanted to be. I always loved hearing him talk of you and Thomas. Although I never got to know him really well, as I read this website, he was everything I imagined. You really have such incredible memories. You are both in my thoughts and prayers.

Lori Andochick

 

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Mary Ellsworth, a friend and morris dancer

Takoma Park, MD

 

It's hard to find the words. I had not stopped to realize what a big part of our lives Nick has been, until now. My love to Terry and Thomas.

 

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Overheard: "I'm old enough to know better. This is better." - N. Robertshaw

 

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Ben Brooks, a Family Freind

Rockville, MD

 

I've never known a man with a better understanding of how to live his life. He is becoming an idol of mine i guess. I loved him and I knew him to be a good and talented man. But only after he left us did I really start to comprehend his greatness. I was gone from the area for a long time and I wish I knew him better. I wll miss him a lot and think of him often. One other thing that I admired and will miss was the beautiful relationship he had with his wife Terry. My wife and I as a couple always admired it and we aspire to have something similar in our own way. It is tragic that his light has gone so soon. We are all poorer for having lost it, but much richer for having known it.

 

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Mike O'Connor, childhood friend of the family.

Now a musician/musicologist living in Cornwall

moconnor@ision.co.uk

 

Best love and prayers to you all from distant Cornwall. Nick was a great example to us all. Somehow distance adds another dimension to the sad poignancy of this farewell.

 

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I never allowed many people to call me Peter instead of Pete. Nick did it all the time! He IS larger than life and his influence will go on and on. Love you Big Guy!

Pete(r)

 

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I knew Nick primarily from the Northeast Squeeze-In. We were both large guys who played for morris teams, played duet concertinas and liked to sing satirical songs. I haven't seen him in many years, but I've been thinking about him a lot since his death. He was a real inspiration.

 

Does anybody remember this video of a performance by the Foggy Bottom Morris Men at Kennedy Center on May Day, 2001?

 

http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/artist_detail.cfm?artist_id=FOGGYBOMEN

 

An hour of morris dancing hosted by Nick and his concertina. The link to view the video is toward the bottom of the page.

 

David Barnert

Albany, NY

 

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My relationship with Nick was fairly short, just a couple of years. I worked with and hopefully supported the efforts of Nick and Francis in the development and promotion of PEDS. Nicks words " The trouble with dying is you don't get to see how it all turns out " rings through my ears . If ever anyone deserved to see how it all turns out then Nick is that guy.

 

Although our relationship was based around business Nick had a presence that defied you not to become a friend. He has a place in my heart and the team at Harlow Printing in the UK. each of the team were astonished, shocked and sad when the news reached us. My wife and I ( Sue ) had always promised to come over to the states to visit Nick and his family. He in turn was full of what we could see, the beauty of the fall and so many other things. His untimely departure emphasises that we should all not put off until tomorrow what we can do today..........................it's too late now, we can never share his passion, enthusiasm, love and wander around Washington with the benefit of this great man's ability to make you feel special.

 

I've been with our business for 35 years and never in this time has the death of a colleague had such a profound effect on me and the members of our team. Nick was too big in every way to have left this world without leaving a huge void . I never met his family but my heart and prayers are with them every day. It is wonderful that you can all celebrate his life, that is what Nick would have wanted. I feel honoured to have known him and so so sad that I will not see him again.

 

If it is possible to send a big hug across the Atlantic then please accept these few words as my hug to his family and friends........................

 

With love from

John Short and the team at Harlow Printing Limited in England.

 

 

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Dear Terry and Thomas,

 

I wish you both the best. We will all miss Nick deeply. He was an outstanding Husband, Father, and Friend. I know I have missed the last two years of all of your lives and feel horrible for that. If I could turn back the hands of time I would. The good times we all had will be remembered for ever. I miss and love you all. Distance can't keep us apart! Im looking forward to new memories and friendships till the end. Hugs and kisses to you both. Wish I was there to give you the biggest hug ever.

 

Love,

 

Missa and Nani

 

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I knew Nick as a friend and colleague. I always admired his intellect, spirit, creativity, and curiosity that led him to quickly become a major contributor to the area of developmental screening. I still can't believe I won't see him again or hear his very-English pronunciations or words: he could have read the phone book and made it sound like great literature!

 

All of my best wishes to Terry, Thomas, and his family and friends. Nick's work and spirit live on through all of us and we were blessed to know him as we did!

 

Margaret

 

Margaret Dunkle

Senior Fellow, George Washington University

Director, Early Identification and Intervention Collaborative for Los Angeles County

 

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I met Nick many years ago at a Morris event. My first thought was, "Geez, you are very tall". I did come to learn though, that Nick was a big man with an even bigger heart.

 

My thoughts and prayers go out to Terry and Thomas and of course the rest of his family and friends.

 

Sandy Phillips

Forest City Morris and Sword

 

Dear Terry, Thomas, and Frances,

 

It is amazing to me that most all that has been said about Nick by people who have known him for a very long time was so readily apparent to me in such a short amount of time with him.

I feel Nick had the power to make you look at yourself and question whether you are really getting the most out of life, every day, every minute, every interaction, because I am convinced that he was. Perhaps this is why he saw the value in the beauty of things around him when most take these things for granted. "Toad Hall" will always be known to me as "Big Nick's Toad Hall Park", and his dream will live on. Nick may not be with those who crossed paths with him any longer here on earth, but he surely enriched their lives and made the world a better place.

 

Your friend,

 

Eric

 

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from Professor Rashmin Tamhne, Leicester, England

 

Nick always seemed so interested in what I was doing, and he never failed to enthuse me about my work. His sharp, resourceful mind saw solutions for apparently insoluble problems. I can say this even though I did not meet him more than a handful of times, for he made an impact whenever we did meet- I vividly remember our meal together with Mitch in Harrow some 3 years ago.

 

In the end, it is the quality of a relationship, and the ability of a person to make you fulfilled is what matters, not the length of time - every fulfilled moment is akin to a complete lifetime, and a lifetime is nothing but a moment in the vastness of time!

 

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Dear Terry and Thomas,

 

I was one of the lucky people who had the pleasure of spending Burning Man 2007 with BigNick.  I have posted some memories on the BM page to share with you.  I just wanted to let you know that I'm remembering Nick on Christmas and wishing you the deepest of joy in remembering the everpresent light imparted upon us by him, during this holiday season.  This kind of light is never too far away from the Heart, and I cannot think of a Nick more Jolly then yours.  :)

 

Best wishes,

 

Leslie McLaughlin (Ottawa, Canada)

 

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