John Robert Nicolas

Born in December 22, 1947 in Winthrop, Massachusetts to Arthur Joseph Nicolas and Mary Stephens Nicolas. He was one of five children. John attended Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield Maine. Upon graduation, he served in the Navy during the Viet Nam war years. He graduated in 1975 from Cape Fear Technical Institute in North Carolina and moved to Osterville, Massachusetts.

John enjoyed a long career as a marine biologist with National Marine Fisheries in Woods Hole. He specialized in whale research and census. He retired after 33 years. He then accepted the position as marine biologist on the research vessel Marcus G. Langseth with Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University where he monitored the presence of marine mammals.

John found great pleasure being on and around the sea. He was a recreational sailor; he enjoyed shell fishing in the bays around Cotuit.

He was happy to call Cotuit his home and with his companion, Alexis Burns, enjoyed the village as a year round resident. Both on land and sea, John was known for his sense of humor and warmth.

John is survived by his son, Benjamin, his daughter Katherine and his four sisters; Marilyn Kitson, Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Peabody, Dorothy Mael, and Margaret (Peggy) Cronin.

Visiting hours will be on Friday August 20, 2010 from 4-8pm at the Doane Beal & Ames Funeral Home, 160 W. Main St. Hyannis. Interment will be private.

Donations in John’s name may be sent to:

Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 549, Hyannis, MA 02601

or

US Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Suite 123 Washington DC 20004