What Nick Meant to Others in Their Words:
(randomly selected from hundreds and hundreds of cards, letters and emails)
What immediately drew me to him was his smile and the aura that made it seem like he was always having fun. Nick, no matter where he was or whom he was with, he glowed from the simple thrill of enjoying life. The most unique part of this gift was that he always wanted to share this joy with all those he cared about and all those he came across. The essence of his spirit, as it can best be described, was that he could never be happier than the saddest one of us. But true to his strengths, rather than allow himself to be lowered to a less happy state, he had the uncanny ability to always bring us up. Friendship isn’t a big thing – it’s a million little things. Nick may have become my good friend because he was happy, loyal, tough, handsome, smart, athletic, generous and funny. But he is my best friend in the world because of every day life experiences we shared. Nick shaped so much of who I am and he will be a part of me forever.
Bryce Albin – Excerpts from church service 8/13/11
Nick was so happy all the time. Most people have a handful of great friends and then a more extended network of acquaintances. Nick on the other hand, seemed only to have an extended network of great friends. Nick was always the best friend anyone could ask for because he cared so genuinely about you and as a consequence, was absolutely, fiercely loyal. Nick was never afraid of anyone or anything. Period. Half the time I think he picked out the other team’s biggest guy on the soccer team before the game even started and made up his mind that he was going to take him down with a good hard tackle first chance he got. Just to set the tone and let everyone know that he might not have the size on that guy but he had more heart and he could shut him down.
Nick managed to maintain a balance, did great in school and even earned a scholarship. This balance between being such a fun guy and at the same time smart, hard-worker, just made me and everyone else respect him more. He became a leader at Wake Forest. He just did the right thing and everyone knew it and I think if you ask any of his close friends, we actually looked up to him every day.
Nick was my best friend, he will always be a guide for the kind of guy I’d like to be. Nick will always be a part of me and all of us here. I’ve lost a brother, plain and simple, and I’ll miss him every single day for the rest of my life. He was perfect and we should accept nothing less of ourselves.
Boone Dupree – Excerpts from church service 8/13/11
The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Nick is his smile. Nick had an uncanny ability to focus on positives of a situation no matter how bleak its initial outlook. An attitude like Nick’s is the result of pure, uncompromising happiness, and to say it was contagious is a dramatic understatement. Whenever I think of Nick, loyalty and dedication as a friend comes to mind. He was the type of guy who was everybody’s best friend. He gave everyone his 100%. Dedication to his friends – he gave himself wholly without any expectation of a payback. I have never met somebody who loved his or her family more than Nick. Nick will live on forever.
He was the unanimous choice to be DKE President for our class and won “most missed brother” by a landslide. He was the most popular kid in our fraternity, and didn’t have a single enemy at Wake Forest.
Nick was the type of guy you wanted to start a business with; the type of guy you wanted to have as the best man at your wedding; the type of guy you wanted your sister to marry. Sure, he knew how to have a good time, but he was also one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. He knew when it was time to have fun and when it was time to buckle down and get to work. He was an absolute prince of a man. Please know that I will do my best to live my life in a way that would make him proud. He will be in my heart forever.
Fred Wightman DKE Brother
He had this gift where he could make you feel like you had known him for years after the first time you hung out with him. I could tell right away what a special person he was. I could always count on him. If you asked any of Nick’s friends who their most dependable friend was, Nick would be the answer 100 times out of 100. I think reliability and trustworthiness are the two most important qualities a friend can have, and Nick exemplified these two traits better than any friend I’ve ever had. Nick just made my life better in every way imaginable. I’m a better person for having known him and his infectious joy and warmth will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Joey Binns – Wake Forest Friend and Post College Roommate
Nick changed my life forever. I think God crossed Nick’s and my path for a reason. I wanted an intelligent, kind, caring and complete person by my side, like himself. Even though he was a year younger than me, he made such an impression on me during that summer vacation in Greece and Italy, that he turned my world upside down, for the better. I never saw him again, I owe him so much. Letting you know how many lives your son and brother touched and changed. Nick is a shining example of an integral, outstanding and exceptional human being. Nick’s death only comes to reaffirm that he was not an ordinary or average individual. A person capable of giving his own life for a friend is an angel, and that is the only reason I can think of, of why he was taken away from us so soon.
Javiera Huneeus – A One Time Only Acquaintance
Nick is and always will be someone that I both fondly remember and make references to when I speak to the players about what I am looking for in a player. He always put all of his effort into all that he did and his charisma was as much a part of both his and our success as his playing ability. The state championship of 06 was a great result for us all and we never would have had that without Nick who was All State that year. The world has lost a great young man and a true hero as well.
Scott Snyder – Westminster Soccer Coach
