Obituary
Geneva- Jean H. Nicholas, age 96, passed away Friday, August 2, 2019 at M.M. Ewing Continuing Care Center in Canandaigua.
At Jean’s request, services will be private and at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Memorial Fund, Geneva First United Methodist Church, 340 Main St., Geneva, NY 14456.
Jean was born Dec. 29, 1922 in Brooklyn, NY, the daughter of the late Dr. Charles E. and Amelia M. Hamilton. She attended Smith College in Northampton, MA, transferring to and graduating from Barnard College at Columbia University in New York City.
On Jan. 25, 1948 she married Carter Nicholas, moved to the family farm in Geneva, and lovingly restored a broken down farm house. Jean worked at Geneva Cutlery Co./Ecko, for the National Bank of Geneva as an administrative assistant, and later for St. Francis-St. Stephens School teaching Spanish and French. She also tutored students and adults in languages, and was sometimes called to be a translator for Geneva General Hospital. Jean loved to travel, and had been to 64 countries.
Jean was a creative person who loved to draw, paint, write. She enjoyed Scrabble and Bridge. Jean also loved music, playing piano and accordion, singing in the church choir, and in the annual Easter Cantatas at the Hall United Church of Christ. She had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, was an avid reader, and participated in the Seneca Research Group.
Jean was passionate about nature and sports. Growing up she had spent summers on the Long Island seashore and had a life-long love of the water. She was an avid golfer, and was the 1958 Women’s Champion at the Geneva Country Club. Jean also played tennis, biked, sailed and canoed. She swam regularly at the Geneva YMCA, earning her 100 mile award.
Jean is survived by two sons, Geoffrey C. Nicholas of Jakarta, Indonesia, and John H. (Elizabeth M.) Nicholas of Geneva; three grandchildren, Mary E. (William) Maskrey of Canandaigua, Shannon E. Nicholas of Washington, D.C., and Robert C. Nicholas of Goose Creek, SC; one sister, Phyllis Hamilton of San Francisco, CA; one brother-in-law, Stanley H. Richards; niece, Sarah M. Richards; four nephews, Dr. Charles H. (Theresa) Richards, Stuart L. (Alice) Richards, Peter M. (Kathleen) Richards and Evin T. Ollinger; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.
Jean was predeceased by her husband, Carter Nicholas on Mar. 29, 2018; and by her sister, Judith G. Richards.