We are greatly saddened to announce that our father died on April 15th. Born in Kamloops 89 years ago, Dad came from a large family and spent most of his childhood in Saanich. As a young man Tony spent a year in London, England with his soon to be wife Elizabeth (Jean) Nicholson. They returned to Victoria to start a family and raised four daughters, Alison, Helen, Eve and Sara. After retiring, Dad started a new life with Hedda Thatcher.
Our father was a man of passion. He was passionate about theatre, politics, travel and the world beyond the west coast of Canada. He delighted in his grandchildren, Tristram, Emma, Angela, Arielle, Tessa, Vita and Christian and was besotted by his great grandchildren, Brodhi, Dezmond, Ella, Henry, Rowan and Finn.
Dad spent his career selling travel, putting together fantastic trips for clients who wanted experiences beyond the ordinary. Before opening “Tony Nicholson Travel”, Dad was involved in the local theatre scene, having been inspired by his mother, Flora Nicholson, who started the St Luke’s Players. Dad acted in many plays, but his true passion was directing. He liked to tell the story of how he learned from a theatre review that his production of Beckett’s “Krapp’s Last Tape” was the premiere in North America!
We will miss our daily emails from Dad pointing us to a worthy news story or the latest episode of Rachel Maddow. We will miss his love for life, curiosity, vigor and tenacity, a role model if ever there was.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
-
Theron W. Watson
-
Donna Lynn Nicholson Dear Family,
Feeling the loss of your precious father and my uncle. I do believe he is in a better place!! He was a wonderful father, which leads me to believe also an even better Grand and Great Grandfather!
Love my early childhood memories with Allison and still have pics of us being flower girls at Auntie Judy’s wedding! Helen was a baby! That Christmas I brought 4 of my kids that ended up being 7. Really connected with Eve then. Just so you know I have a daughter, Eve, and a granddaughter, Sarah, and still feel so connected to my Nicholson side. We are all so connected in the big picture!
Bless you all!
PS my hard drive recently fried in the UK and they have locked me out of my email as my computer remembered all my passwords for me and I am password-less. I am on Daughter Eve’s computer at the moment so that will be the email to connect through.
So much love, Donna Lynn Nicholson
-
Tina Frame I was so sorry to read your Dad had passed. He was one heck of a character to say the least. I really enjoyed working for him and your mom. I am sure he is missed by many.
Warm thoughts, Tina
-
Derek Jackson Hello clan Nicholson, I was just informed of Tony passing. I was saddened to hear this as I still have him on my “must visit” list. Now no doubt it will happen on the other side. He will always rank as one of my most unforgettable characters. Having worked with him on his residence so many years ago I thought about him often and was so pleased to have had a chance to visit a few years back. Outspoken and opinionated he was a man well worth knowing. Love and Hugs to all of you, Derek
-
Madeleine and Michel Fort We met Tony and Jean when they came to the French Connection Restaurant for dinner. We had many interesting conversations with them over the years and have many happy memories of Tony. Our sincere condolences to all his family and friends.
-
Kent Allan My sincere condolences to Jean and the girls for your loss.
What a wonderful friend he was to me. Many happy times at the house and office. Give us great advice on our travels.Tony was just an exceptional exciting man to be around.
My heart goes out to you in the passing of this really neat guy.
My dear friend Tony. Bless you Jean.
-
Michiel Horn I’m sad to read this, but take comfort from the thought that he “had a good innings”. I met Tony through the Intimate Stage in Victoria in 1960, and he has the distinction of being the only person to direct a play in which I appeared, Strindberg’s The Ghost Sonata. I remember the experience with pleasure. I also had occasion more than once to draw on his knowledge as a travel agent. Decades have passed since I last saw him, but I remember him as a good man with an excellent sense of humour. My condolences to his family. May his memory be a blessing!
-
John Tucker My parents, Bobby and Jessica Tucker, really loved Tony—and Jean. Tony opened up the world to them, but especially Greece. The trips he organized in conjunction with the Classics Department whetted their appetites, but that was only the beginning. He was endlessly patient and resourceful in creating adventures for them. And he was there to rescue an aunt who tended to get lost at bus stops during tours. His accounts of such happenings were hilarious. In due course my wife Christine St Peter and I came to rely on Tony and his staff for our own travels. So we remember him with great fondness.
-
Sheila Harvey I am sad to hear of Tonys death. I have great memories of both working in his office and then being a competitor. It was always friendly competition! My husband Bob and I socialized with Tony and Jean and one year went on a sailing holiday in the Bahamas . Those were good years and we were a close knit community in the travel business. Tony contributed greatly to the industry in Victoria.
I will remember him fondly . My condolences to you four girls and hope you are all doing well.Sheila Harvey
-
Cathy Burniston My condolences to all the family.
I will always remember the influence your dad had on me, when through Allison in 1976 he said, “ If you want to travel to Europe now is the time to go to Greece.” It wasn’t a destination on my radar at that time but what good advice. We did go and it was a momentous trip in my early years of independence.
Thinking of you, Allison, at this sad time.
Cathy
I worked for Tony and Jean as a teenager at the travel agency in the Empress between 1983-1986. I have very fond memories of Tony being a firm but kind man. I saw him about 9 months ago and assisted him to get a taxi to go to Helen’s home. He will be missed, he was a man with many travels and travellers.
Theron W. Watson
Victoria, BC