Nicholas Paul Sverchek

According to the Tao Te Ching we must “know how to be kind and gentle.” A friend said, “Nick was one of the very few people who knew how to do this, without even having to try.” Nicholas Paul Sverchek was delivered by his dad on October 4, 1984, in Lone Pine, California. Nick died unexpectedly on November 2, 2006 in Delhi, India and continued his journey to God. Nick attended Bakersfield Parent Nursery School, Centennial and Del Rio Elementary Schools, and Rosedale Middle School. At Liberty High School, he played tenor drums in marching band and drum line. At 11, he was baptized at Laurelglen Bible Church, and at 21, he bathed at the source of the Ganges River. At UC Santa Cruz, Nick took a course on translating Hebrew and considered majoring in World Religions, but focused on Psychology. He always sought knowledge and could rarely be talked into missing a class. He went to the University of Delhi to study philosophy and religion. One of his professors in India said he had never had a student more interested in Sanskrit. Music was an essential part of Nick’s life; he played piano, drums, and guitar, wrote music, and was never without his iPod. He was especially proud to tell of the time a clock flew off the wall while he was jamming with friends. Nick described Bob Dylan as sounding like he now has rocks in his throat and never forgave his parents for neglecting to see his favorite artist as a young man. Nick lived life and had no intention of missing out on a second of it. Trees were for climbing, cliffs for jumping, waves for riding, rails for sliding, mountains for scaling up and racing down, he relished any sport involving a board. There was no food that could not be enhanced by Crystal Hot Sauce. He was always tough and fearless, even driving himself home from Sierra Summit with a broken arm and concussion. On December 19, Nick was planning to return to his parents Jim and Michele, his brother Joey, his sisters Christine and Laura, and his lady, Michelle Borland. Nick leaves sixteen aunts and uncles, 25 cousins, countless other relatives throughout the West, and friends all over the world. Throughout his life, Nick interacted and explored. In India, he did not stand off to the side as a tourist, but immersed himself in the various cultures, languages and experiences. He rode a motorcycle in Nepal, hiked in the shadows of the Himalayas, traveled on a houseboat in the backwaters of Kerala, saw the Taj Mahal, prayed in the Golden Temple, shared tea with locals and spoke Hindi (poorly but enthusiastically) to anyone who would talk to him. Nick was incredibly loyal and supportive. While traveling in India, he hopped off an all-night bus to call his mom on her birthday, and spent innumerable hours talking with his family and girlfriend back home. His classmates in India have described him as: humble, intelligent and exquisite, exceptionally caring and confident, and as a fearless friend who deeply loved his family and had an unquenchable desire for adventure and spiritual enlightenment. He brought the gift of laughter to everyone he knew, and his smile lit up the room. Please join us on Saturday, November 18, 2006, at 3:00PM at the Dome, 2201 V St., in Bakersfield, CA. The service begins at 3:00PM and will be followed by dinner and celebration that will last at least until midnight. In honor of Nick, please wear a T-shirt with your favorite band or skate logo and jeans. If you are unable to be there, pay tribute to Nick by doing something fun, exhilarating, fearless, and adventurous. In lieu of flowers or other gifts, please donate to the Nepalese Youth Opportunity Foundation, http://www.nyof.org/. Atman is Brahmin. We love you, Nick.

This obituary was originally published in the Bakersfield Californian.