Alex Nickon

1927 - 2021

Alex Nickon

Alex Nickon, 93, of Copper Canyon, Texas, died March 24, 2021, from complications of Covid-19. He was born October 6, 1927 in Cholojow, Poland, the son of Steven and Maria Wasylewsky, and emigrated with his family to Canada at age two. As a teen growing up in Edmonton, Alberta, he developed an interest in science that remained with him his entire life.

Alex graduated from the University of Alberta with a degree in Honors Chemistry. He married his high school sweetheart Beulah Godby in 1950, and the couple moved to Boston, where Alex earned a Ph.D. from Harvard University. In 1955 he joined the faculty of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he taught organic chemistry for the next 39 years. During his tenure, he served as editor for several chemistry journals, published numerous research papers, co-wrote a book about the origin of chemical names, and held sabbatical positions in Germany, England, and Boston. In 1990 the American Chemical Society named him Maryland Chemist of the Year. After retirement, he remained active in the Johns Hopkins chemistry department.

A humble man of great integrity, kindness, honesty and generosity, Alex taught by example. He was a devoted father to his three daughters, always finding time to help them with homework and to play badminton, chess, and board games. He loved magic tricks, and often performed magic shows for his daughters' birthdays. He had a marvelous sense of humor and loved jokes and riddles.

In the 70s, he and his wife discovered square dancing and were soon spending several evenings a week dancing with local clubs in the Baltimore/Washington area, as well as traveling to square dance conventions. They enjoyed the close friendships they made with fellow dancers, as well as the challenge of learning ever more complex dance sequences as they progressed to advanced levels. In the 80s, they met a group of friends while on African safari, and enjoyed further trips with the group to Costa Rica, Mexico and Italy.

In 2005, they moved to Texas to be near one their daughters. Beulah passed away in 2016. Alex was also predeceased by his older brother Walter Waslewsky. He is survived by his daughters and their husbands: Dale and Dave Svatik of Copper Canyon, TX; Linda and Keith Lindsay of Lake Tahoe, CA; and Leanne Nickon and John Clark of Bar Harbor, ME; and by his granddaughter Jenna Lindsay; and grandson Chris Svatik and wife Roxie. He is also survived by his sister Elsa Maxwell of Vancouver, WA, brother-in-law Lee Godby of Briny Breezes, FL, and numerous nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed.