Richard H. Nicol obituary

#Middlebury #Obituary

Loving uncle and friend

Richard H. Nicol, 78, of Middlebury passed away peacefully July 31, 2022, at Waterbury Hospital.

Richard was born April 20, 1944, in Waterbury, a son of the late Gordon James and Anna (Yurkus) Nicol. He graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in engineering. Richard proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War.

Prior to his retirement in 2009, Rich worked as an engineer for the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation. He was a member of the Middlebury Republican Town Committee for many years and served as chairman for 10 years. Rich was a lifelong member and chief of the Middlebury Volunteer Fire Department from 1986 to 1990.

He dedicated many hours as a longtime commissioner with the State of Connecticut Commission on Fire Prevention and Control representing the Connecticut Fire Department Instructors Association. He was a past president of both the Waterbury Area Chiefs and the Connecticut Parade Marshals Association. Rich also served as a member of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association Education Committee, the Connecticut Fire Instructors and the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association. He was an avid UCONN and N.Y. Yankees fan and a lifetime supporter of the Middlebury Congregational Church.

He leaves his nieces and nephews, Michele King and her husband, Brian, of Bridgewater; Anne Hughes of New Hampshire; Gordon “Nick” Nicol and his wife, Debbie, of Wolcott; Annette Criscione and her husband, Michael, of Woodbury; Kevin Nicol and his wife, Diane, of Wolcott; and a host of great nephews and nieces.

He was predeceased by his brothers, Gordon Nicol Jr., Robert S. Nicol, and William Nicol and his sister, Elizabeth Bennett.

Calling hours will be Tuesday, August 9, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at Chase Parkway Memorial/Albini Family Funeral Home at 430 Chase Parkway in Waterbury followed by a funeral service at noon. Burial with military and fire departmental honors will follow at Middlebury Cemetery.

For more information or to send e-condolences, visit www.chaseparkwaymemorial.com.