Celebrating the life of
Paul Gabriel Nicholson
September 23, 1925 - January 20, 2007
Paul Gabriel Nicholson
Paul G. Nicholson, who retired in 1987 as Chief Engineer of Construction of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, died Saturday, January 20, 2007 at Memorial Hospital in Savannah, Georgia. He was 81 years old.
Mr. Nicholson was in charge of major projects that are fixtures in the New York metropolitan area during his more than 48-year affiliation with the Port Authority including the World Trade Center on which he worked closely with I.M. Pei.
Projects for which he had direct construction engineering oversight included the George Washington Bridge Bus Station, designed by architect and master builder Dr. Pier Luigi Nervi, the Bus Terminal, Trans-Hudson PATH railroad, The Lincoln Tunnel and Holland Tunnel and other Port Authority facilities. He managed budgets up to $300 million annually and was directly responsible for a staff of over 250 employees. After his retirement Nicholson remained a consultant to the Port Authority until 1994 mentoring aspiring minority and women contractors.
Mr. Nicholson was hired by the Port Authority shortly after graduating Valedictorian from Manhattan College in 1948 with a degree in civil engineering. Mr. Nicholson interrupted his career with the Port Authority in 1956 to accept a three-year assignment as Coordinator of Design and Construction of the US pavilion and theater designed by Edward Durrell Stone at the Brussels Worlds Fair of 1958 for the U.S. Department of State.
He returned to the Port Authority in 1959, was named Manager of the Construction Division in 1970 and became Construction Chief Engineer serving in that capacity until his retirement in 1984.
A licensed professional engineer in the states of New York and New Jersey, he was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Society of Professional Engineers, The Moles, The Maintenance Committee of the International Bridge, Tunnel & Turnpike Association and the Steel Structures Painting Council and a visiting Lecturer at the University of Chicago.
Nicholson served in the Navy as an electronics specialist, Radar & Loran during World War II at the Naval Research Lab in Anacosta, Virginia.
A resident of Upper Saddle River, New Jersey for many years, he served as member and Chairman of the Upper Saddle River Zoning Board of Adjustment for 19 years, Nicholson devoted his private time to his family, home and church serving as a founding trustee, lector and in Religious Education programs at the Church of the Presentation
In 1993, Mr. Nicholson moved with his wife of 57 years, Dorothy Nicholson, to Savannah, Georgia, who survives him. He is also survived by his three daughters, Maura Nicholson deVisscher of Greenwich, CT, Tara Nicholson Olson of Rye, New York and Ann Nicholson Brown of New Canaan, CT, and grandchildren Patrick and Luke deVisscher, Morgan and Meredith Olson, and Dorothy and Oliver Brown.
There will be a funeral mass at St James Catholic Church, 8412 Whitfield Avenue on Wednesday, January, 24th at 11:00 am.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
St. James Church, Building Fund for the Adoration Chapel, 8412 Whitfield Avenue, Savannah, GA 31406
or
Skidaway Island First Responders, Box 601, Savannah, GA 31411
FOX AND WEEKS FUNERAL DIRECTORS HODGSON CHAPEL
Please sign our guestbook online at www.foxandweeks.com
I was in the Design Division when Paul was the head of the Construction Divison. He was always a pleasure to work with; even tempered, competent, very good with people. Bob Foote, the retired manager of the Research Division, e mailed me asking that I would relay his sympathy too for some reason he could not access the web site. Many of us remember Paul with fondness, he was a valued colleague and a good engineer.
- Enoch Lipson, New York, NY
To Dorothy, Maura, Tara, and Ann...please know you all are very much in our thoughts and prayers at this time. Paul was a wonderful person, we loved him! May God's Peace, Love, and Grace strengthen and sustain each of you today and always. Love, Katie and Pat Giblin
- Pat and Katie Giblin, Bonita Springs, FL
so sorry for your loss
- betty toraya, savannah, GA
Dear Dorothy, We were saddened to hear of Paul's passing. Please accept our condolences to you and your family; you are in our thoughts. Brenda and Pierre Choquette
- Brenda & Pierre Choquette, Vancouver, GA
DEAR DOROTHY, WE ARE VERY SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, IF THERE IS ANYTHING WE CAN DO PLEASE LET US KNOW. LOVE, MICHAEL,SUSI AND BRIAN WILSON
- MICHAEL J. WILSON, MOUNT KISCO, NY
Dear Family. I offer you my prayers and sympathy. He was a great gentleman. Love, Jean
- Jean Beltramini, Savannah, GA
I was in the Design Division when Paul was the head of the Construction Divison. He was always a pleasure to work with; even tempered, competent, very good with people. Bob Foote, the retired manager of the Research Division, e mailed me asking that I would relay his sympathy too for some reason he could not access the web site. Many of us remember Paul with fondness, he was a valued colleague and a good engineer.
- Enoch Lipson, New York, NY
To Dorothy, Maura, Tara, and Ann...please know you all are very much in our thoughts and prayers at this time. Paul was a wonderful person, we loved him! May God's Peace, Love, and Grace strengthen and sustain each of you today and always. Love, Katie and Pat Giblin
- Pat and Katie Giblin, Bonita Springs, FL
so sorry for your loss
- betty toraya, savannah, GA
Dear Dorothy, We were saddened to hear of Paul's passing. Please accept our condolences to you and your family; you are in our thoughts. Brenda and Pierre Choquette
- Brenda & Pierre Choquette, Vancouver, GA
DEAR DOROTHY, WE ARE VERY SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, IF THERE IS ANYTHING WE CAN DO PLEASE LET US KNOW. LOVE, MICHAEL,SUSI AND BRIAN WILSON
- MICHAEL J. WILSON, MOUNT KISCO, NY
Dear Family. I offer you my prayers and sympathy. He was a great gentleman. Love, Jean
- Jean Beltramini, Savannah, GA
Services under the direction of:
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel
912-352-7200
