Jennifer Lynne Nickell

NICKELL, Jennifer Lynne, age 56, of Middletown, Ohio, passed away in Toronto, Canada on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Jenny was Pit Lane producing the IndyCar race in Toronto as part of the NBCSN-TV broadcast team, when taken ill. She passed away surrounded in love with her immediate earthly family. She is now safely in the arms of her heavenly family and savior. Jenny was the daughter of Robert and Jewell (Hauselman) Nickell, who predeceased her.

Born in 1960, she became an accomplished vocalist and pianist before graduating from Middletown High School in 1978. Armed with a bachelor's degree in Radio/TV broadcasting from Indiana University in 1982, Jenny began to work in various production capacities in the sports TV world, learning her craft as a freelancer for ESPN, NBC, ABC, FOX, and multiple cable networks. For much of her career, she worked for and with her longtime mentor and friend, Terry Lingner, of Lingner Group Productions in Indianapolis. She lived in Indianapolis for most of her adult life, before returning to Middletown in 2011.

Jenny was the popular pit producer for NBCSN the past 10 years in a television career that spanned four decades. A four-time Emmy Award winner and three-time Olympics producer for NBC, Jenny produced all forms of sport, from NCAA swimming and diving, to X Games, to rowing for the Sydney Olympics. She was scheduled to produce NBC's coverage of the 2016 Rio Olympic weightlifting. But her favorite sport, the one that gave her the most pleasure, was IndyCar racing. She elevated her family's avid interest in the sport - ignited by her grandfather, Arthur Hauselman, in 1923, and became a vital part of IndyCar. She was respected and admired for her knowledge of the sport and especially her writing and producing skills. As a pioneer for women in sports TV production, Jenny mentored many women (and men) and loved to share her expertise and enthusiasm with her “racing family.” She leaves behind hundreds of friends in the racing and sports TV worlds.

Jenny is survived by brother, Jeff (Yvonne) Nickell of Sylvania, Ohio, and sister, Julie Nickell and her partner Doug Bean of Middletown, Ohio; nephews Justin (Renee) Nickell of Toledo, Ohio, and Clayton (Ashley) Nickell of Park Hills, Kentucky; and grandnephew Matthew Nickell and grandniece Madison Meadows, of Toledo Ohio. In addition there are numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, and friends who fondly remember Jenny. A private burial will be at the convenience of the immediate family.

A Celebration of Life service with Rev. Michael Isaacs presiding is planned for Monday, August 29, 2016 at 4 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 2910 Central Ave., Middletown, Ohio 45042. Immediately following will be a reception for family and friends at Wildwood Golf Club, 601 Aberdeen Drive, Middletown, Ohio 45042.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be directed to the Indiana University Foundation, Jenny Nickell Memorial Scholarship, PO Box 6460, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6460. Online gifts may be made at my.iu.org/one-time-gift, with a write-in designation for the Jenny Nickell Memorial Scholarship benefitting women pursuing degrees in sports TV and journalism.

Arrangements are being handled by Breitenbach-Anderson Funeral Home in Middletown, Ohio. Tributes can be made at <http://www.anderson-funeral.com/> or on a Facebook tribute page - search: “In memory of Jenny Nickell.”

Jenny's family would like to express their heartfelt thanks for the overwhelming outpouring of love, support and prayers in the wake of her death. Jenny passed away doing what she truly loved, and we know she is racing to heaven. Godspeed, Jenny.