Nicolas Quinto Salas

Nicolas Quinto Salas was born July 8, 1981, to Beth Shammas and Mario Salas, three years after the birth of their triplets. From the moment Nick arrived, he knew he needed to be loud, charming and cute to compete with his attention-getting siblings. He was the most outgoing, had an ease in talking and relating to people and had the biggest eyes and longest eyelashes of us all. So lovable.

In a household devoted to sports and recreation, Nick also exhibited the most natural athletic ability, notably in ping pong and basketball. Although he disliked losing, he was also known for winning without going the extra mile. Only Nick could put in a mediocre effort and still pull off a victory.

We marveled at his intelligence and slight rebelliousness when he deliberately put in a below-average effort in middle school, only to excel academically as a high school freshman, “when it mattered.” At Pacific Grove High School, Nick was surrounded by good friends, teammates and coaches. He was proud to be part of the basketball team that won the Central Coast Section and Northern California championships and competed in the state championship game at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

While in high school, Nick was diagnosed with bipolar I disorder, and his life — and ours — changed completely. His academic and athletic plans were disrupted, and his struggles with mental health began.

Despite this diagnosis, Nick’s natural abilities helped him find employment as an aide in the Pacific Grove school district’s before- and after-school program and with the city’s recreation department. Nick enjoyed working with children, and with his big heart, authenticity and love of games and sports, the work was a natural fit.

Nick impressed us most when he coached seventh-grade boys basketball at Pacific Grove and Carmel middle schools. We watched him teach plays, be lighthearted and silly, skillfully manage parents, maintain discipline and, at times, unfortunately, unleash his frustration on the referees. But we also saw the children adore him and parents rally to support him, giving us a glimpse of the impact he could have.

Nick was smart, resourceful and surrounded by friends and family, yet this illness challenged us all. A young man with bipolar disorder who tried to cope on his own, Nick soon found himself also battling addiction and the challenges of living with both conditions.

Throughout his struggles and accomplishments, Nick remained a coach and champion for the underdog. An old soul, he connected with people who had also endured difficult life experiences. His time living on the street gave him — and us — greater compassion and understanding for others facing hardship. Nick’s heart was as big as his deer-like eyes. He made friends wherever he went and took pride in encouraging and supporting those less fortunate than himself.

Nick enjoyed being an uncle and cherished being present for the birth of his first niece. An avid animal lover with a particular fondness for cats, he enjoyed the company of his beloved pets. Nick was also a treasure trove of interesting information, whether it was music from the ’60s, sports trivia from the ’70s, movie lines from the ’80s or politics from the ’90s. He was usually right and unpredictably opinionated. We will remember the many roles his talents might have led him to pursue: a radio broadcaster for the Hippo, a sports blogger — if he had been more tech-savvy — or an elementary school physical education teacher.

Nick passed away Oct. 6, surrounded by his family. His suffering ended, but his countless comical anecdotes and heart of gold will live on around our dining room tables.

Nick was preceded in death by his father, Mario, in 2016 and his stepfather, Tom, in 1998. He is survived by his mother, Beth Shammas; his stepfather, Richard Gray; his sisters, Lorie, Layla and Marta; his brother, Jamil; and his nieces and nephews, Miriam, Charlotte, Libby and William. He is also survived by his uncle, Joe Shammas; his aunt, Anne Swedberg; and numerous cousins.

A funeral Mass and reception will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, October 29 at St. Angela Merici Catholic Church in Pacific Grove.