Paul G. Nicholson

Paul G. Nicholson -Savannah- Paul G. Nicholson, who retired in 1987 as Chief Engineer of Construction of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, died Saturday, January 20, 2007 at Memorial Hospital in Savannah, Georgia. He was 81 years old. Mr. Nicholson was in charge of major projects that are fixtures in the New York metropolitan area during his more than 48-year affiliation with the Port Authority including the World Trade Center on which he worked closely with I.M. Pei. Projects for which he had direct construction engineering oversight included the George Washington Bridge Bus Station, designed by architect and master builder Dr. Pier Luigi Nervi, the Bus Terminal, Trans-Hudson (PATH) railroad, The Lincoln Tunnel and Holland Tunnel and other Port Authority facilities. He managed budgets up to $300 million annually and was directly responsible for a staff of over 250 employees. After his retirement Nicholson remained a consultant to the Port Authority until 1994 mentoringaspiring minority and women contractors. Mr. Nicholson was hired by the Port Authority shortly after graduating Valedictorian from Manhattan College in 1948 with a degree in civil engineering. Mr. Nicholson interrupted his career with the Port Authority in 1956 to accept a three-year assignment as Coordinator of Design and Construction of the US pavilion and theater (designed by Edward Durrell Stone) at the Brussels Worlds Fair of 1958 for the U.S. Department of State. He returned to the Port Authority in 1959, was named Manager of the Construction Division in 1970 and became Construction Chief Engineer serving in that capacity until his retirement in 1984. A licensed professional engineer in the states of New York and New Jersey, he was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Society of Professional Engineers, The Moles, The Maintenance Committee of the International Bridge, Tunnel & Turnpike Association and the Steel Structures Painting Council and a visiting Lecturer at the University of Chicago. Nicholson served in the Navy as an electronics specialist, Radar & Loran during World War II at the Naval Research Lab in Anacosta, Virginia. A resident of Upper Saddle River, New Jersey for many years, he served as member and Chairman of the Upper Saddle River Zoning Board of Adjustment for 19 years, Nicholson devoted his private time to his family, home and church serving as a founding trustee, lector and in Religious Education programs at the Church of the Presentation. In 1993, Mr. Nicholson moved with his wife of 57 years, Dorothy Nicholson, to Savannah, Georgia, who survives him. He is also survived by his three daughters, Maura Nicholson deVisscher of Greenwich, CT, Tara Nicholson Olson of Rye, New York and Ann Nicholson Brown of New Canaan, CT, and grandchildren Patrick and Luke deVisscher, Morgan and Meredith Olson, and Dorothy and Oliver Brown. There will be a funeral mass at St James Catholic Church, 8412 Whitfield Avenue on Wednesday, January,24th at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:St. James Church, Building Fund for the Adoration Chapel, 8412 Whitfield Avenue, Savannah, GA 31406 or Skidaway Island First Responders, Box 601, Savannah, GA 31411 Please sign our guestbook online at www.foxandweeks.com Savannah Morning News January 23, 2007 Please sign our Obituary Guest Book at www.savannahnow.com