Charles I. Nichols Jr. Obituary
Charles Irving Nichols, Jr, 89, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully after a short illness on February 16, 2025, at Seacoast Nursing and Rehab in Gloucester, MA.
Charlie was born in Boston, MA, to the late Charles I. and Helene (Nordstrom) Nichols. He attended the Emerson School for Boys in Exeter, NH before eventually moving to Manchester-by-the-Sea, where he graduated from Story High School, telling many stories of playing six-man football. He was a member of Manchester Boy Scout Troop 3, becoming a patrol leader and Eagle Scout.
He served in the US Army in Korea with the 59th Ordinance Group, having trained as a radar technician. After his service, he attended Wentworth Institute, graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering.
He met and married Claire Parady, moving to Rockport where they lived on Holbrook Court in Claire's family home, raising their three girls, Cindy, Deborah, and Melinda.
Charlie worked for over 35 years for Raytheon Company, serving as a lead radar technician for the Hawk Missile System deployment in Germany, working on the initial radar installation at the Mickelson Safeguard ABM site in North Dakota, and many other projects, eventually retiring as a project manager working on improved radar equipment shelters for multiple missile systems.
Capt Nichols was an avid sailor who enjoyed nothing more than sailing Sandy Bay in his 24 foot sailboat MoonShadow. He liked traveling, making many trips to Europe and the US Virgin Islands, where he enjoyed sharing the Caribbean with friends and family. He also enjoyed hiking, camping, running, wood carving, and photography.
His love of sailing led him to serve for over 30 years on the Granite Pier Committee, helping to improve the storage process and facilities there. Charlie was also a Life member of The Manchester Club.
He was predeceased by his wife of 50 years, Claire (Parady) Nichols and his grandson Kristian Juncker, Jr. He is survived by his long time partner, Marcia Budrow (and her family) and his three children - Cindy and her husband Kristian, Sr; Deborah Nichols; Melinda Mciver; five grandchildren (Courtney Tranos; Arrienne Andrus and her husband Sean; Erik Juncker and his wife Vicki; Sarah Mciver; Deborah Nichols), and seven great-grandchildren (Michael Johnson; Christopher Tranos Jr; Elias Tranos; Declan Andrus; Keelin Andrus, Ryane Andrus; Claire Juncker; Theodore Brown).
At Charlie's request there will be no funeral. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. Arrangements by the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester.
