Rev. Nicholas J. Sollom

Rev. Nicholas John Sollom, age 44, of East Haven, Connecticut and East Greenwich, Rhode Island, was received into the promise of eternal life on December 13, 2025 after a long battle with PTSD. A devoted follower of Christ, Nick lived a life of love, faith, and service. He was an ordained pastor in the New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and most recently served as pastor of First Evangelical Lutheran Church in East Greenwich. He was also a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in East Haven.

Nick was born January 12, 1981 to John and Sally Sollom (Shephard) in Seattle, Washington. Called to ministry at a young age, he entered the Legionaries of Christ formation program. He later earned a Bachelor's degree in English and Creative Writing from the University of Washington before moving to New York City, where he worked as a paralegal at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. His call to ministry resurfaced through his introduction to Lutheranism, where he was deeply moved by its theology of grace. He completed a Master of Divinity in pastoral care at The General Theological Seminary and was ordained on the eve of Pentecost, May 23, 2015.

Nick's ministry was shaped by lived experiences of trauma, deepening his compassion for those facing crisis, illness, and loss. He remained present in the hardest moments, offering care grounded in faith, truth, and hope. He transformed his pain into healing.

Pastor Nick devoted much of his ministry to healthcare chaplaincy. He served as a chaplain at Yale New Haven Hospital, providing care to patients and families at Smilow Cancer Hospital and in adult, pediatric, and psychiatric emergency departments, as well as neurology. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he served on the front lines, offering daily pastoral care, end of life support, and system-wide spiritual leadership. For his service, he was honored with the Yale New Haven Hospital Hero Award and the Nurses' Choice Award. Previously, he served as a palliative care chaplain at Bellevue and the New York Harbor Healthcare VA, caring for veterans and underserved populations across New York City. Alongside this work, he preached and presided in congregations nearly every Sunday for more than a decade.

In the past year, Nick experienced renewed joy and peace as he grew closer to God through prayer, writing, and time in nature, especially in the ocean and woods. He shared this expanding faith through nature photography paired with devotional writings. Music, dance, and animals brought him great joy. He lived life to the fullest with his husband, Dom Bortruex, whom he married on July 3, 2025 after nearly three years together. They shared adventures, laughter, and conversations that deepened their love of each other, God, and people.

Nick is survived by his husband, Dom Bortruex and their two beloved dogs, Coco Chanel and Joey Meatballs; his former spouse, Rev. Jared Stahler; his parents, John and Sally Sollom; his siblings, Tim (Clarissa) Hutchinson, Brian (Jenn) Sollom, and Christine (Brian) Casabianca; and his adored nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is remembered with love by his extensive chosen family and friends

Pastor Nick is remembered as a faithful servant of Christ who walked alongside others through suffering with grace and courage. We rejoice in the promise of eternal life and trust that he now rests in the peace of his Savior.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., with a calling hour beginning at 12:00 noon, at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 118 Division Street, East Greenwich, Rhode Island. A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Nick's memory to First Evangelical Lutheran Church, East Greenwich, to be stewarded in his honor.