At age four, Nick’s parents moved the family of nine to Salt Lake City where he later graduated from South High School and worked several jobs growing up. He worked for Greyhound Bus from 1942 to 1950.
Nick joined the Navy at age 17. The examiner told him to step back to become a Marine. He told him he wanted the Navy or he would go home and be drafted at 18. During the Navy, he went to diesel school in Ames, Iowa becoming a mechanic and was then assigned to the U.S.S. Rehoboth, a sea plane tender in the engine room, which sailed in both theatres. Discharged in 1946, he returned to Greyhound until starting with Safeway in 1950. Nick was promoted to shop superintendent in 1964 working in El Paso, Texas and Denver before retiring in 1988.
Nick met Mary Dolores “Dee” Cronin through a co-workers wife. They were married January 29, 1948 in St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. The priest was really hung over and needed to go back to bed. Their wedding certificate was written in green ink, “Mary Pocatello Cronin” scratch, scratch, over “Pocatello” then Dolores was written above.
He built three beautiful homes: two in Bountiful Utah and a cabin named “Nicadee” in Red Feather which he enjoyed for 27 years.
Nick is survived by his wife Dee of 70 years; two beautiful children: Carol and Joe; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents and siblings he is predeceased by a son, Steve.
He left us on Sunday morning October 28, 2018.
