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My son, Sidney, has always thought Nick was just the coolest guy out there!! Nick has always been so nice to him. In Middle school, Sidney was diagnosed with fronto-temporal lobe dementia, and basically began aging backwards as far as congnition, memory, interest, fine motor skills…. Although many peers weren’t sure, I guess, how to process the changes in Sidney, how to interact with him…. With Nick - it was almost as if he didn’t even see the changes! He never treated Sidney differently (except with even MORE patience and kindness)! He always made a point to speak to Sidney in the hallway at school and anytime we saw Nick anywhere else. One memory, in particular, touches my heart so much!! Sidney and Nick graduated together, although their curriculum was very different. As our family was leaving the arena following the graduation ceremony, Sidney saw Nick with a group of Nick’s friends at the bottom of the stairs outside. And Sidney made a beeline straight to Nick, interrupting the conversation between Nick and the other guys he was with, and asked Nick to take a picture with him. Nick just smiled the BIGGEST smile, asked the other guys to wait for a minute, and took pictures with Sidney and had the sweetest conversation! Every time I look at that picture, it still brings tears to my eyes! Sidney felt so very SEEN - one of the guys - the friend of someone that EVERYBODY was friends with…. That is who Nick has always been - the one who SEES, and genuinely cares about, the ones who so often feel invisible.
~Carol
I have been blessed with so many amazing memories with Nick that it is so hard to just pick one. However, the very first time I went to a Riverdale FFA meeting I didn’t really know anyone. I stood off to the side and listened but didn’t know where I would fit in and too scared to talk to anyone. As soon as Nick realized I was alone he came up to me and introduced me to all of his friends. He made me feel so welcomed on my very first day. Fast forward through the years and I was able to compete in several competitions with my new found friends all because nick decided to reach out and take me in. By the time we reached senior year we got to go to state convention— and being the goofball he is— he and everyone else in the chapter volunteered him to be a part of the Dolly Parton Stampede Dinner Show. He dressed up in a kilt and danced on stage right along with the cast members of the show and brought a smile to everyone’s face. With all that being said, Nick was always the kind of person to invite you in, make you smile and feel welcomed even on your most isolated days.
~Maiah Case
