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Walter Stanley Nicholes died peacefully at age 96 in his Shaker Heights apartment attended by his beloved wife Nina and dearly loved niece Victoria Jean Nichols. He is also survived by daughter Laura Willard (Keith); sons Hugh (Dianne); David (Joy); Paul; grandchildren Jennifer, Lance, Jessica, Levi, Daniel and 2 great granddaughters. Also Step-daughter Susan Cruz (Joseph) and grandchildren Michael, Lilliana, Joey, Alex and Sam. Walter graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, Long Island, during World War II and served as a deck officer in convoy actions to every major sea and ocean war theater, including a harrowing winter convoy voyage to Archangel, Russia. He recorded these adventures in his memoir The Seagoing Years: Memories of a Boy at War. He came ashore after achieving his Master’ License, to attend Syracuse University, and graduated B.S. degrees in News Journalism and English Literature. He had to work his way through college since Merchant Marine vets were promised, but then denied, GI benefits despite the Merchant Marine having had the highest casualty rate of any of the WWII military services. His postwar work consisted of sales-oriented management, founding two advertising agencies, and retiring as VP of Corporate Communications for the L.J. Minor Corporation, a Cleveland food service firm acquired in 1988 by Nestle, S.A. On his retirement in 1990 and looking for new interests, Walter returned to a favorite childhood activity, “pond hockey”, at which he was competent and loved to play. Connecting with Cleveland Heights Men’s league, he played until his team retired his number at age 79. Paired with Joseph Newman (also a ’44 Kings Point graduate), they played prominent roles in the local United States Merchant Marine Alumni Association serving consecutive terms as chapter president. Many today may remember - when they, themselves, were school children, and Walter was a volunteer teacher’s assistant in Citizen’s Academy, Coventry and Fairfax Elementary School classrooms, and active with the Ohio Sierra Club’s Inner City Outings program. He was also an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Cleveland, and peace and justice organizations including Heights Citizens for Human Rights, Veterans for Peace Chapter 39, and Cleveland Peace Action. Donations in his memory may be made to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Cleveland. A farewell poem: Adam in Retirement Now, though frail and filled with ache, my mind’s fire fueled to stay but briefly lit, I have come to respect the Snake, enjoy forbidden Apples, cores and all, and look to argue blind the Shameless God who cunningly schemed his children’s fall. Walter, 2016

Tributes

Walter S. Nicholes

May 25, 1924 - August 19, 2020