We are saddened to announce the peaceful passing of Neil Nichols on Saturday, April 3, 2021, with loved ones by his side. Born in Digby on June 15, 1937, he was the son of the late Harold Nichols and Lillian (Nielsen). Neil was predeceased by his wife Doris, son Dale and daughter Lori, as well as his brothers Peter and Frank. He is survived by son, Michael (Kim), daughters Sherri Davis (Gary) and Susan Connery (Richard). Neil also leaves behind 9 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews.

His family was everything to him. He was lovingly referred to as “Bubby” or “Bubs” by his grandchildren. We are sure his great-grandchildren would have carried on that tradition. He is going to be incredibly missed.

Neil attended Digby Academy and graduated from Digby Regional High School. He was honoured to have been a commencement speaker at DRHS later in life. He moved to Toronto in 1956 to follow Doris, who moved there with her family from Centerville. He travelled there with a childhood friend, Wayne Wentzell. Wayne and his wife, Jane Flood, were with Neil and Doris through thick and thin. They all loved entertaining, parties and dancing. Neil began a long career at TransCanada Pipe Lines starting as a clerk in the accounting department. While at TransCanada, he attended night school to become a Certified Management Accountant and a member of the Financial Executives Institute, all while raising five children with Doris. The hard work paid off as he eventually rose to the roles of Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice-President. He later joined Key Span Energy Corporation in Brooklyn, NY, as a Senior Vice-President and President of Key Span Energy Development Corporation. He was also a Board Member of Keyera through 2016. Neil and his family continued to visit and stay in Nova Scotia for many weeks a year until he moved back permanently, as did his children.

He was heavily involved in many community organizations through the years, including the Salvation Army, the Order of Saint Lazarus, Digby and Area Health Services Foundation, the Annapolis Basin Conference Center (ABCC), and the Jordantown Acaciaville Conway Betterment Association (JACBA) Center of Excellence.

Neil loved to play golf and watch the major golf tournaments, whether it was in person or on television. He really enjoyed his fishing trips, but mostly his regular visits to the Hunt Camp in northern Ontario and the friendship and camaraderie he found there. He felt fortunate to be afforded so many opportunities to travel the world and enjoyed every minute. But, Neil loved Nova Scotia the most. He was a big history buff and, in particular, enjoyed local history and the stories that could be told through cemeteries. His personal keepsakes were very important to him as he considered them a connection to his past. He passed on many stories to family and friends. Neil gathered annually with some of his life-long friends in Maui. Eventually that became a family tradition for many of their children. Geoff and Mary Mitchell and Brian and Ruth Aune were part of the core group that expanded through the years. He loved watching everybody’s children grow up. Around Digby, he never missed an opportunity to share a cigar (or two) with his good friend Dominique Hanna and loved Monday night “scotch club”. He enjoyed his Tuesday morning coffee group and looked forwarded to Saturday lunches with the “boys”. He particularly enjoyed time spent with his life-long friend Harry Winchester. He wanted his friends to know that he cherished each and every one of you and felt blessed to have so many of you in his life.

Neil and his family were deeply appreciative of the efforts of his wonderful palliative care team. Their support, together with the thoughtful and dedicated care provided by the nurses with the VON, were invaluable. We cannot thank them enough.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Jayne’s Funeral Home in Digby, NS. Plans for a Celebration of Life, post - Covid are in the works. Donations in Neil’s honour can be made specifically to the Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research through the Sunnybrook Foundation. To donate online, go to https://donate.sunnybrook.ca/tribute and designate the Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research in the drop down menu.