Dr. Robert F. Nicely Jr.

1940 - 2025

Dr. Robert F. Nicely, Jr.

January 10, 1940 - September 6, 2025

Boalsburg, Pennsylvania - Dr. Robert F. Nicely, Jr. of Boalsburg, Pa. passed away peacefully on September 6, 2025 at home holding hands with the love of his life. Bob was born on January 10, 1940 in Greensburg, Pa. He was the son of the late Dr. Robert F. Nicely and Jean Isabelle (Baird) Nicely. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Donna Comnale Nicely (they met on a blind date 65 years ago); his children Lisa Nicely and Scott (Julie) Nicely; his grandchildren Army Sergeant Major Curt A. Armstrong, Rene Nicely, Taylor Trump, Jeremy Trump, and Dylan Nicely; his great-grandsons Jace and Benson Trump; his sisters Martha (Dale) Shields; Elaine (Ronald) Zuzack; his sister-in law Anita J. (Jim) Popella; and three nieces Darci (Josh) Marcum, Mindy (Kip) Lang, and Jennifer Zuzack.

Bob received his B.S from The Pennsylvania State University, his M.Ed. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. He retired as Professor Emeritus of Education and Associate Dean Emeritus from the Pennsylvania State University. During his career he was President of three Pennsylvania educational organizations - The Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of Mathematics and The Pennsylvania Educational Research Association. He was also President of the Penn State Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa. Bob received 28 awards and honors for his research, publications and leadership, including having received Penn State's Howard B. Palmer Faculty Mentoring Award for mentoring junior faculty and the Penn State Vice President's Award for "the highest standard of quality, leadership, and vision in Continuing and Distance Education."

Bob was a man of many interests and talents. He loved landscaping, working in his flower gardens, reading, building and traveling. He loved his family and would help whenever he was needed. He designed and built stone walls, a tri-level deck, a pergola and a garden cottage in the back of the first home he and Donna built in 1979 in State College. He also designed and built decks for his children at their homes. His favorite travels were to Italy; Martha's Vineyard, MA; Emerald Isle, NC, Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key on the Gulf Coast of Florida.

The family wishes to thank Bob's many caregivers from Adult Transitional Care and the nurses and aides from UPMC Family Home Hospice.

Family and friends will be received from 10:00 am – 11:00 am on Friday, September 12, 2025 at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, 820 Westerly Parkway, State College, PA. Funeral mass will follow at 11:00 am with Father George Jakopac officiating.

Bob will be laid to rest in the Boalsburg Cemetery.

If you wish to honor Bob's memory, please consider a contribution to the Robert F. Nicely & Donna C. Nicely Doctoral Student Research Endowment in Educational Leadership, College of Education, The Pennsylvania State University.

Online remembrances may be shared at www.kochfuneralhome.com