Nicholas "Nick" Sertich

1921 - 2016

Sertich, Nicholas (Nick)
94, of Scottsdale, Arizona passed away on March 15, 2016. He was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 19, 1921, second to the youngest of nine children. Early on he learned the importance of hard work, accepting responsibility, and caring for family and friends. Nick was a U.S. Army World War II veteran who volunteered in 1943 and served for two and a half years with the 5th Army's 471st Battalion in the New Guinea and Southern Philippines Pacific campaigns. On Tulagi, a tiny island near Guadalcanal, Nick saw action as part of a 40mm howitzer anti-aircraft gunnery team where he received numerous decorations and citations. After the war, Nick returned to Chicago and worked for Inland Steel Company as a manager in field forces for 33 years. However, Nick's life was defined by his deep love of family, his faith, and children, whether or not his own, and from all walks of life. He was compassionate and non-judgmental, and as much as he loved children, they loved him too. Nick was a great advocate of youth sports and spent much of his time coaching baseball in the Chicago area. After retirement in 1985, he and wife Emily retired to Scottsdale, Arizona. Once again eager to help the young, Nick volunteered as a school crossing guard. Still working as a crossing guard at age 90, Nick received more than 400 nominations in 2011 to be awarded AAA's Crossing Guard of the Year for his 17 years of keeping children safe on their way to Scottsdale's Anasazi Elementary School. He was also an active member of the American Slavic Club. Devoted husband of Emily (Merich) and beloved father of Gary, Nancy and Gregory, Nick was revered by many as the patriarch of the greater Sertich and Merich families, including numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews, and sisters-in-law. Visitation will be held on Monday, March 21, 2016 at 11:00 at St. Patrick's Church, 10815 N. 84th Street, Scottsdale Arizona 85260. Funeral services will begin at 12:00. Military burial to follow at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N. Cave Creek Rd, Phoenix, Arizona 85024. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Patrick's Church of Scottsdale to the Children's Formation Programs.