Ronald LeRoy Nicholas
Ronald LeRoy Nicholas, 69, of Portland, died on August 18, 2017, surrounded by his family. Ron was born on January 24, 1948 in Tucson, Arizona at St. Mary’s Hospital to Iris and Lloyd Nicholas. Ron married the love of his life, Brenda S. Nicholas on November 11, 1972 and had two children, Brian and Michael.
He attended Manzo Elementary; Brian C. Doolan Junior High; and graduated from Catalina High School in 1966. Ron attended Phoenix College for one year before volunteering for the US Army’s flight program, where he became an Army helicopter pilot. After flight school, he was transferred to Vietnam where he valiantly served with B/229 Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. For the majority of his tour, Ron served as flight leader, becoming a highly decorated warrant officer earning multiple awards and accolades including: the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Distinguished Service Medal and Meritorious Service Medal.
After his return from Vietnam, Ron restarted his education at the University of Arizona, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. After graduation, he was offered a direct commission to 1st Lieutenant in the United States Army, serving his country in many capacities and locations including: Ft. Campbell, KY; Ft. Rucker, AL; Germany; Korea; Panama and Ft. Sam Houston, TX. At Ft. Sam, Ron served as a company commander, comptroller and assistant inspector general. Through his various duty stations and many moves, Ron earned his Master of Business Administration Degree from Webster University in St. Louis, MO.
Ron finally retired from active military service with a total of 22 years, 8 months and 4 days of service. Thereafter he served a short stint as the Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance with a school district in San Antonio, TX before moving to Portland, after acquiring four run down properties in Portland. Ron and Brenda tirelessly spent the next year and a half rehabilitating the properties, all of which had no utilities. With most of the rehab complete, Ron joined his brother-in-law Paul and sister-in-law Cathy to create a liquid extract manufacturing facility in Portland. A year after the company was sold, Ron finally “retired.”
Whenever possible, Ron could be found boring holes in the clouds, flying from one adventure to the next. With a commercial pilot’s license under his belt, Ron and Brenda set off to locations near and far. Ron flew his loving wife, Brenda, to the Bahamas, Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica, the Grand Canyon, Napa Valley, Florida, Nashville (for a Jimmy Buffett concert!) and New Jersey to visit his son and grandchildren.
A true renaissance man, there was nothing that Ron couldn’t fix, either with mechanical knowledge, persistence, or simply a bigger hammer. Ron was a frequent advisor to his friends and family on ideas to salvage their home improvement project or mechanical woes. His sons were frequent recipients of his mechanical expertise, something Brian and Michael both thoroughly enjoyed doing with their father, especially when the job was successfully completed.
Ron enjoyed spending time with family and friends at Moosehead Lake, where a glass of bourbon was sure to be close by. At the “camp,” he particularly enjoyed working in his shop or the hangar and teaching his grandson how to kayak and fish. He loved the outdoors, camping and hunting. He was an accomplished marksman and a NRA instructor in home defense and pistol training.
Ron is survived by his loving wife of 44 years Brenda Nicholas; mother, Iris Nicholas (still thriving at 94 years young); son, Michael Nicholas, and his wife Rebecca Nicholas; son, Brian Nicholas, and his wife Jaime Ackerman; grandsons Andrew and Jacob Nicholas; nephew James Duncanson and grand-dog Naomi Nicholas. Ron was pre-deceased by his sister, Patricia Mayes and father, Lloyd Nicholas.
Ron and his family are truly grateful for the loyal friendship and support of their amazing friends and family. They would also like to thank the tremendous medical and hospice support provided during Ron’s courageous battle with Melanoma.
Ron will be interned at Arlington National Cemetery at a date yet to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions to honor Ron be made to:
American Legion Post 94 (Greenville, Maine)
P.O. Box 1222
Greenville, ME 04441
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.com)
Moosehead Marine Museum (www.katahdincruises.com)
Online condolences may be expressed below.
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