Nicholas Michael Iannone

1979 - 2023

Nicholas "Nick" Michael Iannone was born in a suburb of Buffalo, New York, on April 6, 1979. He resided in Marin County for the past 12 years. After a two-year battle with metastatic cancer, he died peacefully in his home at 3:50 pm on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, in San Rafael, California. Nick was 44 years old. His dear friend and ex-wife, Melaina Eller, and beloved dog, Olive, were at his side. Nick was a visionary and creator, engaged in a wide array of pursuits including fine art (painting, drawing, photography), apps, music, and food.A prolific singer-songwriter, he was known musically as "Nick Whitman." Nick played multiple instruments, including piano, guitar, drums, and harmonica. In the final hours of his life, he shared that his favorite part of making music was when the song finally came together in a rough draft mix. He said, "I hope people enjoy [my music] after I'm gone." His music is available on all streaming services, and his music videos can be viewed on YouTube: @NickWhitmanMusic7374.Nick founded his mobile software development company Tiny Mobile Inc. in March 2010, and launched over 35 apps and amassed over 10 million downloads. A video game enthusiast (especially of Madden NFL), his app portfolio includes multiple games, including Scratchers, Coin Bulldozer, and Bingo Royale. His favorite part of app development was overcoming challenges he initially found hard or difficult.Nick was also an amazing cook. His favorite food, and his last substantial meal, was steak. He could make anything, from pizza to Lebanese cuisine to a mean ramen concoction he dreamt of mass-producing and selling in grocery stores. Ultimately, his greatest joy came from cooking for others.An animal lover, particularly a birding enthusiast, Nick was also a dedicated father to his dog, Olive. Nick taught her an abundance of tricks, including ringing a bell to signal her desire to go outside or come in. He developed a warm relationship with the local dog park community.Nick hosted a live streaming show he named Chillavision, and started nearly every show with a list of intentions that included having fun and avoiding offending anyone. What he cherished most was witnessing the consistent return of viewers week after week. The platform truly became a space where his smart yet humble, thoughtful, generous, insightful, creative, fun, and kind spirit radiated. He cultivated a community through both Twitch and Reddit streaming services.Reflecting on life, Nick said that his greatest enjoyment came from the feeling of freedom he would sometimes get when he could do anything he wanted, such as flying a plane and exploring on various types of motorized and human-powered vehicles.Nick is survived by his grandmother, Marilyn Iannone; his mother, Joette Haynes; his brother, Tony Iannone; his close friend and ex-wife, Melaina Eller; his beloved dog, Olive; and a multitude of family and friends. He will be deeply missed by many.There will be two local services. His Graveside Service & green Burial is scheduled on September 2, 2023 at 1:30pm to take place at Santa Rosa Memorial Park, 1900 Franklin Avenue, Santa Rosa. His Celebration of Life will be on September 5, 2023 at 6:00pm at Graton Casino, 288 Golf Course Drive West, Rohnert Park.