It is with sadness that the family of William "John" Nicholson announce his passing at age 85 on August 15, 2026. John will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 61 years, Carol; children, David (Guylaine), Lynn, Heather (Eric); grandchildren Carl, Marc, Dawson, Justin, Trevor and Craig; his brother Robert; and numerous other family members and friends. John was predeceased by his parents, Howard and Elaine; and brother Peter.

John was born in Vancouver, and although the family lived in Calgary and Saint John while John was growing up, they often spent time at the Buccaneer Bay family cabin on Thormanby Island on the west coast. John attended Queen's University where he met Carol (née Brown) and graduated from Civil Engineering in 1964. They enjoyed a close group of Queen's friends who continued to gather together and celebrate Queen's Homecoming for 60 years.

In 1965, John and Carol were married in Ottawa, and then went to Boston where John attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, graduating with an MS degree in 1968. He and Carol then spent over a year travelling around Europe and North Africa in a VW that they had purchased in Germany and outfitted for their extended road trip. Coming back home, John started working for DuPont Canada where he spent his entire career in management with the family eventually settling in Oakville.

John was always an avid sportsman and enjoyed track and field, downhill skiing, sailing, squash and hiking over his lifetime. In retirement, John and Carol travelled the globe, joining group hiking and skiing trips. They also completed the Bruce Trail End-to-End, an 800+ km hike that follows the Niagara Escarpment. John's retirement passion project was building a cottage at Lake Park, Carleton Place where the family spent time every summer.

John will be remembered as a kind, hard-working, gentle, and humorous man by all that knew him.

A private family gathering will take place in September in Carleton Place, Ontario.