Stephen Lawrence Nichols M.A. ’96 died August 29 in his home at the age of 77. Born in Cleveland to Helen and Lawrence Nichols, he grew up in Troy, Ohio. He and his family later moved to Pasadena, then Winnetka, Ill., where he graduated from New Trier Township High School in 1952. He graduated from Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y., in 1956, where he was a member of the tennis team and Phi Gamma Delta. He then went on to serve as an officer in the U.S. Navy. After leaving the service, he began working for Montgomery Ward and then Mervyn’s before starting a career in property management and commercial real estate in the Silicon Valley with Blackhawk Real Estate and Coldwell Banker. While working full-time in real estate, he attended Santa Clara University and earned his master’s degree in counseling and psychology in 1996. In 2000, he and his wife moved to Twain Harte, Calif. to retire and build a new home. He served on the Twain Harte Homeowners Associations Board of Directors and was involved in the planning of the skateboard park, bocce ball court and the brick memorial at the tennis courts. He helped organize the Twain Harte’s Litter Patrol and was referred to as "Captain Litter" by many of his friends and family. He enjoyed playing tennis and running, having completed the Boston Marathon in 1976 and the Avenue of the Giants Marathon with his son in 1977, water aerobics, working out at the gym and walking. He also enjoyed attending Sierra Repertory Theatre and raising funds for the theater. Mr. Nichols is survived by his wife, Mikell Kelly M.A. ’96, of Twain Harte; sister, Cynthia Nichols Russell, of Traverse City, Mich.; children and their spouses, Susan and John Stebal, of Willowick, Ohio, Stacey and Bill Larson, of Davis, Eanna Sarah, of Tuolumne, Calif., and Doug Johnson, of Pacifica; and grandchildren, J.P. and Anna-Lesia Stebal, both of Willowick, Ohio, Julia and Amanda Larson, both of Davis, and Mercedes Sarah, of Tuolumne. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Peter Nichols.