David A. Nichols

David A. Nichols, retired Whatcom County Superior Court judge, passed away on Friday, January 12, 2024 at the age of 83 from advanced ALS. An east-coaster by birth, he had the amazing good fortune to meet his wife Dot of Minneapolis on a student ship bound for Europe when both were 17. Wedded the week after graduation from Amherst (Dave) and Wheelock (Dot), they were married for 61 years. Law school in 1968 brought them to Washington State which became their permanent home. There they raised three children: Mark (Julie), Brett (Nicole), and Jody (Eric), and fostered Reah (Denny). They were blessed with six grandchildren: Aidan, Gretchen, Susanna, Maggie, Jonathan, and Asher.

A Renaissance man, Dave was a fine athlete (football, rugby, handball, water and snow skiing, sculling, polo, and fox hunting), played piano by ear, and was an accomplished artist in oils and watercolors. There was very little he wouldn’t try. A wicked sense of humor fueled his personality, and his Rotary Club meetings became the stuff of legend. He was on the governing board of PeaceHealth St. Joseph Hospital for almost 30 years.

In 1984, after 13 years in law practice with the firm of Abbott, Lant, Fleeson, and Nichols, he won a seat on the Whatcom County Superior Court bench where he presided for 20 years, a position he characterized as the perfect job for him.

He will be remembered for his wit, compassion and devotion to his family, loyalty to his friends and respect for everyone with whom he came in contact.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Hospice of the Valley, or ALS Association, Scottsdale, AZ.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00pm on Friday, June 21st at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 2117 Walnut St. Bellingham, WA. A reception will follow.