Nicholas Nick Joseph Tessino

He was born November 3, 1955 in Glens Falls, NY. He became an Eagle Scout and graduated from Glens Falls High School in 1974. Nick received his BS degree at West Point, NY in 1978. He earned MS degrees from both Murray State University and the University of Southern California, and an AA.S in funeral services from Tidewater Community College.

From 1978 to 1989 Nick was a U.S. Army Helicopter Test Pilot and New Systems Project Manager for the UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter. His military career stationed him in Mannheim, Germany, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and Fort Eustis, Virginia. After his military service, Nick created a thriving chain of Pac-N-Mail stores in the Tidewater region which he owned and operated for 13 years. Nick then built a successful career in the Funeral Services industry and thoroughly enjoyed interning as a director for Woody Funeral Home in Richmond.

He was an active member of the American Legion, Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, the Virginia Funeral Directors Association, and the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association. Nick was a devoted Catholic and patriot. He took pride in his landscaping work and enjoyed keeping his yard immaculate. Nicholas will always be remembered for his sense of humor, entrepreneurial spirit, generosity, and the love he had for his children, grandchild, and partner in life.

He was preceded in death by his father, Albert Joseph Tessino, and his mother, Frieda Ruth Henderson. He is survived by his partner, Penny Brick; son, Daniel Tessino; daughter, Jennifer Tessino Nielsen and husband, Jesse Nielsen; grandson, Grant Nielsen; brother, Stephen Tessino; sister, Susan Canale and nephews Matthew and Philip Canale.

The family will receive friends at the church at 10:00 am and a celebration of Nick's life will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 21, at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 315 Harris Grove Lane, in Yorktown. Interment will be at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests contributions be made in memory of Nicholas Tessino to either the West Point Fund – Class of 1978 Gift Account, WPAOG, 698 Mills Road, West Point, NY 10996, or to the Kara Foundation – http://www.foundationforkara.org.

Friends are encouraged to visit www.parklawn-woodfh.com to share memories and words of condolence with the family.

Arrangements are under the care of Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, 2551 N. Armistead Ave. in Hampton, 23666.