Celebrating the life of
Alan M. Nicol
March 05, 1929 - December 26, 2013
Alan M. Nicol of The Landings, Savannah, Ga. passed away peacefully on December 26th, 2013 at his home after a long illness, surrounded by his family. Born in Edgbaston, near Birmingham, England to Douglas and Diana Nicol, he emigrated to the US in 1971 and then moved to Savannah to retire in 1992. He was 84.
Engaging, kind, humble, gracious, very tall and very British, he had many interests and built friendships wherever he went. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Following evacuation from Birmingham during the war, He was educated at Uppingham School in Northern England, then performed his national service with the Royal Engineers in the Royal West African Frontier Force in Ghana. He returned to Caius College, Cambridge, where he obtained a BA in civil engineering in 1952 and an MA in 1956. He spent most of his career with John Laing PLC, the British international engineering and construction firm. He met his future wife Pamela "Paddy" Macfarlane in London while at a Scottish Country Dancing party at the London Scottish Rugby Club, of which he was a member. They married in 1959.
He was posted to the US in 1971 for a three year assignment as President of Laing Construction Services, residing in New Canaan, Ct. Deciding to stay in the US, he took on various leadership positions with the British American Chamber of Commerce in New York, rising to President, for which he was invested as Commander of the British Empire CBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1989. He retired to The Landings in Savannah Ga, in 1992 and became an American citizen with Paddy.
His first love was his family. He enjoyed a happy 44 year marriage to Paddy, who passed away in 2003. He is survived by his brother John West Lidford, England, sister Mary Sich Tauranga, New Zealand, three children: James Molly of Albany, NY, Heather Jim Rutherford of Saintbury, England, and Jane Dave Manuel of Mt. Pleasant, SC. He was blessed with nine grandchildren of whom he was very proud: David, Sarah, Ben, Emily, Andrew, William, Alex, Sylvia and Elizabeth.
He had a lifelong love of sailing. From his early days racing with Sir Francis Chichester in Gypsy Moth, Sir Maurice Laing in Vashti and Clarion, and showing Prime Minister Edward Heath the ropes in Morning Cloud, he was an exceptional ocean racer; he sailed in five Fastnet races, and many others, before starting his family. Much later, he was "Our Man in Savannah" to the1996 British Olympic Sailing Team, a three year volunteer effort to handle much of the team's Savannah logistics for the Atlanta games. More recently, he enjoyed sailing in the West of Scotland and Croatia. And in his twilight years as an octogenarian, he was still winning races with his friends at The Landings Sailing Club. He was a member of the Royal Ocean Racing Club RORC and the New York Yacht Club.
He was a member of the Skidaway Island United Methodist Church choir, the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus, and traveled the world singing with the Berkshire Choral Festival. He was deeply proud of his British heritage, hosting Boxing Day parties every Christmas, some with Scottish Country dancing, and returning to England often.
He leaves a wide group of friends and family who will greatly miss his companionship, graciousness, generosity and zest for life.
Arrangements: There will be a memorial service to celebrate Alan's life at 11:00 am on February 14, 2014 at the Skidaway Island United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, his family suggests that remembrances be made in memory of Alan Nicol to Hospice Savannah
http://www.hospicesavannah.org/HelpByDonating and to the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra http://www.savannahphilharmonic.org/ .
Please sign our guest book on line at www.foxandweeks.com
With deepest sympathy to the family for the loss of your dear loved one. May you be comforted by the words of Isaiah 25:8 'He will swallow up death forever. And the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will wipe away the tears from all faces.'
- Annie Thomas, Snellville, GA
For James, Heather, Jane and all of Alan's wonderful family - we are so sorry for your dad's passing. What a special person he was! He will be missed by the Marsh clan and, especially, my mom, Nancy. Love, Kathy and Kirk
- Kathy and Kirk Riedinger, Ketchum, ID
sorry to hear of Uncle Alan's passing. Love to all the family. John
- John Sich, Sydney, GA
I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the Nicol family. Please know that sickness and death will soon be things of the past. The Bible promises that Jehovah God 'will swallow up death forever, and....will wipe away the tears from all faces.' Isaiah 25:8
- Mrs. Khan, , GA
Dear Alan,You were such a wonderful, charming,dear friend whom we miss terribly. So much time you and John spent chatting about Uppingham and Cambridge memories. Fun dinners and parties we all enjoyed. We love your children and will keep in touch. They must be very proud of you. We all loved you. Happy memories dear friend.
- John & Anne Gardner, Savannah, GA
Dear friend, Stephanie, and family, my sadness for your loss! You are loved, and the faith of the LORD follows you!!
- Sandra Jaye Raines, Atlanta, GA
My prayers go out to all of you during your loss of Alan! I've never him but I know James up here in Albany, NY, who is also a great pleasure to know and work with. God Bless!
- Fr. Tony Kall, Albany, NY
we will miss our good and charming friend
- Mary and Bob McCarthy, Savannah, GA
we will miss our good and charming friend
- Mary and Bob McCarthy, Savannah, GA
we will miss our good and charming friend
- Mary and Bob McCarthy, Savannah, GA
We will miss our dear friend Alan, who has been in our prayers for so long.
- Caroline and Jerry Nusloch, Savannah, GA
What wonderful memories of times shared with Alan & all the family! So sad that there won't be any more sailing,golfing, train trips etc. with such a good friend. God be with all of you left behind.
- Sandy & Willie Phillips, Newtown Square, PA
My deepest sympathy to the family of Alan M.Nicol for the death of your dear loved one. May you draw comfort from the words of Isaiah 25:8, 'He will swallow up death forever. And the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will wipe away the tears from all faces.
- Annie Thomas, Snellville, GA
With deepest sympathy to the family for the loss of your dear loved one. May you be comforted by the words of Isaiah 25:8 'He will swallow up death forever. And the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will wipe away the tears from all faces.'
- Annie Thomas, Snellville, GA
For James, Heather, Jane and all of Alan's wonderful family - we are so sorry for your dad's passing. What a special person he was! He will be missed by the Marsh clan and, especially, my mom, Nancy. Love, Kathy and Kirk
- Kathy and Kirk Riedinger, Ketchum, ID
sorry to hear of Uncle Alan's passing. Love to all the family. John
- John Sich, Sydney, GA
I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the Nicol family. Please know that sickness and death will soon be things of the past. The Bible promises that Jehovah God 'will swallow up death forever, and....will wipe away the tears from all faces.' Isaiah 25:8
- Mrs. Khan, , GA
Dear Alan,You were such a wonderful, charming,dear friend whom we miss terribly. So much time you and John spent chatting about Uppingham and Cambridge memories. Fun dinners and parties we all enjoyed. We love your children and will keep in touch. They must be very proud of you. We all loved you. Happy memories dear friend.
- John & Anne Gardner, Savannah, GA
Dear friend, Stephanie, and family, my sadness for your loss! You are loved, and the faith of the LORD follows you!!
- Sandra Jaye Raines, Atlanta, GA
My prayers go out to all of you during your loss of Alan! I've never him but I know James up here in Albany, NY, who is also a great pleasure to know and work with. God Bless!
- Fr. Tony Kall, Albany, NY
we will miss our good and charming friend
- Mary and Bob McCarthy, Savannah, GA
we will miss our good and charming friend
- Mary and Bob McCarthy, Savannah, GA
we will miss our good and charming friend
- Mary and Bob McCarthy, Savannah, GA
We will miss our dear friend Alan, who has been in our prayers for so long.
- Caroline and Jerry Nusloch, Savannah, GA
What wonderful memories of times shared with Alan & all the family! So sad that there won't be any more sailing,golfing, train trips etc. with such a good friend. God be with all of you left behind.
- Sandy & Willie Phillips, Newtown Square, PA
My deepest sympathy to the family of Alan M.Nicol for the death of your dear loved one. May you draw comfort from the words of Isaiah 25:8, 'He will swallow up death forever. And the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will wipe away the tears from all faces.
- Annie Thomas, Snellville, GA
Services under the direction of:
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel
912-352-7200
