Gilford----- John David Nikolais, 86, died Saturday, September 17, 2016 from complications of Parkinson’s disease with family by his side.
John was born on March 27, 1930 in Bristol, Connecticut. He was the son of the late John R. and Alice (Lambert) Nikolais.
John graduated from Bristol High School in 1948 followed by Trinity College in 1952. He served 2 years with United States Army serving at bases in Fort Dix, New Jersey and Fort Meade, Maryland. Following the military John took graduate courses at the University of Connecticut and the Teacher’s College at New Britain. He taught industrial arts at the Suffield and East Granby Connecticut High Schools
In 1952 John attended a YMCA ballroom dance class where he chose his dance partner Jackie Lowe. They danced through a loving togetherness for 61 years.
John’s hobbies included cooking, woodworking, gardening, photography, and collecting stamps and minerals. For two years he was proudly elected as the president of the Hartford Connecticut Mineralogy Club.
John is survived by his loving wife, Jackie; two sons, John Nikolais, Bruce Nikolais and his significant other Kelly Jarvis of Laconia; one daughter, Cynthia Sulham and her fiancé James Gagne of Bethlehem; seven grandchildren, Karla Luty, Dana and his wife, Michelle of Florida, Bruce Jr. who is serving in the Army at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Jason Brooks , Chad Brooks and his wife Jessie of Bethlehem, Brittany and Joshua Sulham of Bethlehem, and eight great-grandchildren.
There will be no calling hours or funeral.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H., is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.