Clair A. Nickerson ’51

Clair A. “Nick” Nickerson, age 88, passed away peacefully at Rex Hospital in Raleigh, NC on August 25, 2018, following a brief illness.

Nick was born in South Portland, Maine, on March 23, 1930, the son of Herbert Nickerson and Ruth Killman. After graduating from South Portland High School, Nick graduated from Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine, and was appointed Ensign in the U.S. Maritime Service. After leaving the U.S. Merchant Marine, he served as an officer with the South Portland Police Department, eventually moving on to work at Houghton-Arnold Machinery in Portland where he met the love of his life, Betsy Nason. They wed on Christmas Eve in 1955 and were married for 62 years, 9 months, and one day.

In 1967, Nick and Betsy bought Winnisquam Beach Campground in Belmont, NH, and successfully operated the business until retiring to Florida in 1985. Nick then went to work for many years as a Security Supervisor at JM Family Enterprises. Ultimately, Nick and Betsy moved to Youngsville, NC, to be near their youngest grandchildren.

Nick was an outdoorsman with a passion for fishing and hunting. Some of Nick’s and his family’s fondest memories were made during trips to the family camp in central Maine. He also served for many years as a volunteer adult leader with the Boy Scouts of America at the Troop and District levels.

He is survived by his wife Betsy, daughters Kim Bossey and her husband Robert, Kris Jasany and her husband Scott, and son Kyle and his partner Merry Ann Ellithorpe. He was predeceased by his daughter Kelly, then wife of Charles Brazzo. Nick is survived by six grandchildren; Jon, Margaret, Kathryn, Michael, Ryan, and Meagan, and two great-grandchildren, Piper and Deacon.