Robert L. Nichols

NICHOLS, Robert L., Lt. Gen (Ret), U.S. Marine Corps A loving husband, father, and grandfather, died July 4, 2001 in Encampment, Wyoming. He was 79. Born and raised in Providence, RI, Nichols enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps when he was 17. As an enlisted man, he served in World War II in the Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal, Bougainville, and Guam. He was promoted to Second Lieutenant during his tour in the Pacific. He served in Korea as Operations Officer of the First Marine Division and in Vietnam, he commanded the Seventh Marine Regiment. Nichols was promoted to Brigadier General following the Vietnam War, and to Major General in 1974, becoming commander of the Marine Corps Base at Camp Pendleton, CA. In 1975, Nichols was promoted to Lieutenant General. His last assignment before retirement was Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower. He retired in 1976. Nichols moved to Boston, where he worked for New England Mutual Life Insurance Co., and later was Executive Director of the World Affairs Council. He then fulfilled a life-long dream when he bought a sailboat and spent 5 years sailing the Caribbean and off the coast of Venezuela. Nichols married his second wife, Pat, in 1993 and they have spent the past 6 years living in Santa Rosa, where he enjoyed sailing, traveling, gardening, listening to music, using his computer and singing and telling stories to his grandchildren. He also retained an avid interest in current events, participating in the Santa Rosa World Affairs Council Great Decisions program, the Santa Rosa Hosts and the Marine Corps League. His family will remember him as a wonderful husband, father, and friend who made everyone he touched feel truly special. His legacy inspires those who survive him to live with kindness, generosity, and enthusiasm. He is survived by his former wife, Doris, his children, Robert Jr., Susan, Donna, Martha, Paul and David and 4 grandchildren...and by his wife, Pat, and stepchildren, Stephen, Sage, Catherine, Amy, and Ann and 10 step-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on September 7 at 12:30 p.m. at the Ft. Meyer Old Post Chapel, Arlington, Virginia. His ashes will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery. A memorial service and reception will be held at the Wild Oak Saddle Club in Oakmont, 550 Wild Oak Dr., on July 28 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been set up at Exchange Bank, Montgomery Village, 2323 Magowan Drive, entitled "Robert Nichols Inner City Youth Sailing Scholarship Fund".