Robert Nickens Fletcher

Robert “Nick” Nickens Fletcher was born on July 24, 1952 to Otis Robert Fletcher and Bernice Nickens Fletcher. He grew up in the Petworth area of Washington, DC and graduated from McKinley Tech High School in 1970 and Howard University in 1974.

As early as kindergarten, he learned to play drums, playing “Little Drummer Boy” in the school Christmas pageant and he continued to play through high school, as a member of the McKinley Marching Band. While still in high school, he began to work for the D.C. Department of Recreation, where he developed an interest in theater lighting and ultimately he trained as an electrician while attending college. After graduation he began to work in the facilities management department at Howard University, where he worked for 30 years as a construction and contract manager.

He took early retirement to care for his wife of 23 years, Marva, who was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, until her death in 2017. Over the past 25 or more years he has resided in Silver Spring, MD.

Nick loved fast Ford cars, cigars and family. He was an excellent cook, unafraid of trying new recipes. He inherited a love of all things cheese from his mother. He loved to talk politics but had little patience for hypocritical politicians. He was loved by old ladies, perhaps because he took the time to talk with them and treated them with respect and dignity. He was a life-long and long-suffering Washington Football team fan. He loved nothing more than sitting on the back deck, listening to WPFW on the radio and enjoying a good cigar.

He was a dog lover and it was while walking his dog that he re-connected with Fabrienne (Fay) Robinson, whom he had taken to his high school Homecoming and Prom when they both were McKinley students. They were able to share his last five years together in a special partnership.

Family came first for him — all his family. He had a special bond with his mother and cared deeply for his sister, Bernice “Bunny,” especially since the unexpected early death of Otis meant the three of them were each other’s support. He had a special love for those cousins who call themselves “the Rat Pack” but all family were deeply loved by him.

Nick joined Faith UCC in Washington in the 1980’s and while he had not attended church for many years, his faith in God remained strong. He often prayed and on February 17, 2023 he entered his eternal life.

Nick was preceded in death by his parents and an infant daughter, Nicole. He is survived by his partner, Fabrienne Robinson; his sister, Bernice Powell Jackson of Tampa, FL and a host of cousins and loving family. All of us will miss his acerbic wit, his lifting of his eyebrows at the most appropriate moments and his unconditional love.

A Memorial Service for Nick will be held at St. Paul’s Chapel in Rock Creek Cemetery, Rock Creek Church Rd and Webster St. NW, Washington, DC on Friday, March 31, 2023. Family will be there at 10:30 am, service will begin at 11:00. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the United Negro College Fund at www.uncf.org in memory of Robert N. Fletcher.