Richard Nichols
April 27, 1930 — March 19, 2011
Richard Nichols
Richard Gene Nichols, died March 19, 2011 after a courageous battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).
Mr. Nichols was born April 27, 1930 to Ethel (Goodyear) and Russell Nichols. He grew up in northeast Ohio and graduated from Cuyahoga Falls High School in 1948. He graduated from the University of Akron in 1953 with a degree in mechanical engineering and subsequently earned his certificate to practice as a Professional Engineer.
He joined the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company immediately after graduation. After the first few months, he took a two year break to serve in the Air Force. He was stationed at Eglin Air Force base in Fort Walton Beach , Florida and served as an Engineering Operations Manager. He rose to the rank of 1st Lieutenant.
Returning to Goodyear, Mr. Nichols worked in Research & Development where he was awarded a patent for a film stretching process. At various points in his career he worked outside of Akron in Paris , France , Le Havre , France , Houston , Texas and Scottsboro , Alabama . He rose up the ranks from Trainee to Project Manager to Plant Manager. At the time of his retirement from Goodyear in 1989, he was part of the executive management team responsible for Global Plant Engineering.
Subsequent to his retirement from Goodyear, Mr. Nichols served as an engineering management consultant to various firms on a variety of topics but in particular, his Penta-based management system.
In 1991, he joined several other local businessmen in an effort to bring the National Inventors Hall of Fame to Akron . He ultimately served as President and CEO of Inventure Place for seven years, seeing the project through all phases of development: fundraising, ground-breaking, construction and opening. He hosted President Bill Clinton on his visit to the site in 1994 and was featured in Forbes magazine. He remained with Inventure Place for three years after its opening until 1998 when he retired. Upon his retirement from Inventure Place , he received commendations from then-Governor George Voinovich and Congressman Tom Sawyer. In addition, December 11, 1998 was declared "Richard G Nichols Day" in both Akron and Summit County under order of the Mayor and County Executive , respectively.
Mr. Nichols served on a number of community boards during his lifetime, including the Jaycees, Rotary Club, United Way and the National Museum of Education.
Mr. Nichols also received a number of honors and awards during his lifetime, including Outstanding Alumni Award from the Akron U College of Engineering, Distinguished Alumni Award from the Cuyahoga Falls Schools Foundation, Outstanding Achievement Award from the National Museum of Education, and the Harold K. Stubbs Humanitarian Award. He was also a member of Oxford 's Who's Who, Tau Beta Pi and the American Society of Patent Holders.
Mr. Nichols was preceded in death by his wife of 34 years, Dolores Evelyn De Paul Nichols. He is survived by their three children, Renee Nichols Tucei (Alan) of Westport , CT , Denise Nichols Kurtz (Steven) of Stow , and Thomas A Nichols (Maria Luisa) of Massillon . He is also survived by his wife of 21 years, Jin Bun Nichols and stepson Ki Hwan Hwang (Aimee) of San Ramon , CA . He was a proud grandfather to 10 grandchildren.
The family wishes to thank the professional and compassionate caregivers at the VA Hospital Hospice unit in Cleveland .
Friends may call at the Clifford-Shoemaker Funeral Home, 1930 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls, on Tuesday, March 22, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. A Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 am on Wednesday, March 23, in St. Vincent Catholic Church, 164 W. Market St., Akron, OH 44305. Interment to follow in Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the ALS Association, Northern Ohio Chapter, 2500 East 22nd Street, Suite 102 , Cleveland , OH 44115 - in memory of Richard G. Nichols. Alternately, donations may be made to the Heroes Harbor Hospice Unit 3B, VA Hospital, 10701 East Boulevard , Cleveland , OH 44106 - in memory of Richard G. Nichols. His video tribute is viewable by clicking on this link: http://videos.lifetributes.com/MediaViewer2.0/MovieViewer.aspx?id=205964# Arrangements handled by Clifford-Shoemaker Funeral Home, 330-928-2147.
"A sunrise doesn't last all morning... ,
A cloud burst doesn't last all day;
Seems my love is up and has left you with no warning ... ,
But it's not always been that gray... ,
And all things must pass,
All things must pass away."
George Harrison
Mr. Nichols was born April 27, 1930 to Ethel (Goodyear) and Russell Nichols. He grew up in northeast Ohio and graduated from Cuyahoga Falls High School in 1948. He graduated from the University of Akron in 1953 with a degree in mechanical engineering and subsequently earned his certificate to practice as a Professional Engineer.
He joined the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company immediately after graduation. After the first few months, he took a two year break to serve in the Air Force. He was stationed at Eglin Air Force base in Fort Walton Beach , Florida and served as an Engineering Operations Manager. He rose to the rank of 1st Lieutenant.
Returning to Goodyear, Mr. Nichols worked in Research & Development where he was awarded a patent for a film stretching process. At various points in his career he worked outside of Akron in Paris , France , Le Havre , France , Houston , Texas and Scottsboro , Alabama . He rose up the ranks from Trainee to Project Manager to Plant Manager. At the time of his retirement from Goodyear in 1989, he was part of the executive management team responsible for Global Plant Engineering.
Subsequent to his retirement from Goodyear, Mr. Nichols served as an engineering management consultant to various firms on a variety of topics but in particular, his Penta-based management system.
In 1991, he joined several other local businessmen in an effort to bring the National Inventors Hall of Fame to Akron . He ultimately served as President and CEO of Inventure Place for seven years, seeing the project through all phases of development: fundraising, ground-breaking, construction and opening. He hosted President Bill Clinton on his visit to the site in 1994 and was featured in Forbes magazine. He remained with Inventure Place for three years after its opening until 1998 when he retired. Upon his retirement from Inventure Place , he received commendations from then-Governor George Voinovich and Congressman Tom Sawyer. In addition, December 11, 1998 was declared "Richard G Nichols Day" in both Akron and Summit County under order of the Mayor and County Executive , respectively.
Mr. Nichols served on a number of community boards during his lifetime, including the Jaycees, Rotary Club, United Way and the National Museum of Education.
Mr. Nichols also received a number of honors and awards during his lifetime, including Outstanding Alumni Award from the Akron U College of Engineering, Distinguished Alumni Award from the Cuyahoga Falls Schools Foundation, Outstanding Achievement Award from the National Museum of Education, and the Harold K. Stubbs Humanitarian Award. He was also a member of Oxford 's Who's Who, Tau Beta Pi and the American Society of Patent Holders.
Mr. Nichols was preceded in death by his wife of 34 years, Dolores Evelyn De Paul Nichols. He is survived by their three children, Renee Nichols Tucei (Alan) of Westport , CT , Denise Nichols Kurtz (Steven) of Stow , and Thomas A Nichols (Maria Luisa) of Massillon . He is also survived by his wife of 21 years, Jin Bun Nichols and stepson Ki Hwan Hwang (Aimee) of San Ramon , CA . He was a proud grandfather to 10 grandchildren.
The family wishes to thank the professional and compassionate caregivers at the VA Hospital Hospice unit in Cleveland .
Friends may call at the Clifford-Shoemaker Funeral Home, 1930 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls, on Tuesday, March 22, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. A Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 am on Wednesday, March 23, in St. Vincent Catholic Church, 164 W. Market St., Akron, OH 44305. Interment to follow in Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the ALS Association, Northern Ohio Chapter, 2500 East 22nd Street, Suite 102 , Cleveland , OH 44115 - in memory of Richard G. Nichols. Alternately, donations may be made to the Heroes Harbor Hospice Unit 3B, VA Hospital, 10701 East Boulevard , Cleveland , OH 44106 - in memory of Richard G. Nichols. His video tribute is viewable by clicking on this link: http://videos.lifetributes.com/MediaViewer2.0/MovieViewer.aspx?id=205964# Arrangements handled by Clifford-Shoemaker Funeral Home, 330-928-2147.
"A sunrise doesn't last all morning... ,
A cloud burst doesn't last all day;
Seems my love is up and has left you with no warning ... ,
But it's not always been that gray... ,
And all things must pass,
All things must pass away."
George Harrison
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