NICHOLAS EDWARD LAURSEN
1986 – 2018
Nicholas Edward Laursen, son of Michele Morris and Thom Laursen of Park City, died July 17, in Brooklyn of sudden cardiac arrest. He was living in Mexico City and had traveled to New York City for a job interview when he fell ill. His last supper was at a Bushwick pizza parlor with his adored younger brother, Jack Laursen.
Nicholas was born on a snowy day in April at New York Hospital. Half of his earliest words were Spanish, thanks to his devoted Ecuadorian nanny, Tula. He grew up a city kid, exploring the museums, zoos, and parks of Manhattan. From an early age he loved music, and was seldom without a tiny toy guitar. He spent summers in Montana with his Grandpa John, who made sure the city kid could ride a horse, catch a fish, and knew how to use a shovel.
The Laursen family moved to Tucson, Thom's hometown, when Nick was eight, which is where he learned to ride a bike, hike the desert, and got his first dog, Huerro. A friend started teaching him to play the guitar around that time. Nick never stopped.
Nick spent his high school years in London, a cultural feast for a young man who loved music and art. He went to Southbank International School and formed lifelong friendships with classmates from around the globe. Like many third-culture kids, Nick felt at home in the world, but no one place was home. He graduated from high school in 2004, the same year his parents and brother moved to Park City, and spent his gap year in Ecuador.
Nick enrolled at Bard College, where he majored in politics and Latin American studies. After graduation in 2009 he worked in Los Angeles for a year, before setting off for Argentina. He went to graduate school at the University of Buenos Aires, completing his master's degree in economics in 2016. He worked at CIPPEC, an Argentine NGO, before moving back to New York City for a job. On a trip to Mexico, he fell in love with Daniela Parra, an architect.
While Nick traveled far and wide, he kept in touch with friends old and new, many of whom visited him wherever he was living. One week after his death, his friends and family around the world joined together on the internet to listen to one of his favorite songs and raise a glass to Nick, connected to each other by sorrow and their love for him.
Nick leaves behind his heartbroken parents, Michele Morris and Thom Laursen; his beloved brother, Jack Laursen; his adored fiancé, Daniela Parra; and a large loving family, including grandmother Ann Laursen; uncles and aunts, Michael Morris and Cecilia Flanagan; Sheila Morris and Rob Gaebe; Jack Morris; Brian Morris and Cherche Prezeau; Bill Karrasch; Patrick and Shelly Laursen; and Suzanne Laursen. The clan of cousins who looked up to "Nicko" include Emily and Kaitlin Morris; Matt Gaebe; Zara and Mia Morris; Willem, Max, Aidan and Mekdi Morris; Erin Karrasch Blackmar and Declan Blackmar; Tyson Karrasch; Jenna Urben and Stacey Laursen.
A memorial service for Nicholas will be held on Saturday, September 1, at 11AM at Park City Community Church. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to The Hope Alliance, Holy Cross Ministries, or a social justice organization of your choice.