David R. Nichols

PRINCETON-David Ryden Nichols, 94, passed away peacefully on January 13, 2025, at Briarwood Retirement Community in Worcester Massachusetts, with his wife Christine by his side. Dave, a longtime resident of Princeton, Massachusetts, was born February 25, 1930, in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, the middle child of Albert Reginald and Nan (Ryden) Nichols.

Dave was predeceased by his parents, his sister Nancy and his brother John. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Christine; his children Jeffrey (Elaine) of Stowe, Vermont; Kim (Asfaha Hadera) of New York City; and Gregory (Mary Lou DiNardo) of Nantucket, Massachusetts; three grandchildren, Ilfenesh Hadera, Erika Nichols and Mackensie Nichols; four stepchildren, John Bomba (Traci Swenson), Karen Bomba (Craig Hammer), Laurie Bomba (Prashanth Mundkur), and Kristen Bellaire (R. Louis Bellaire); seven step-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren.

A graduate of Brown University with a B.S. in Geology, Dave was a spirited member of Brown's cheerleading squad and was active in Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. When he earned his Master's Degree in Geology from Cornell University, his thesis mapped the bedrock geology of the Coast of Rhode Island for the USGS. Dave was drafted into the U.S. Army Artillery Corps and was an instructor stationed at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. After discharge, he began his career as an exploration geologist in Lowell, Vermont. In 1961, Dave accepted an engineering position at Norton Company in Worcester, and he and his young family made Princeton, MA their home. He enjoyed his 29-year career at Norton, especially the lifelong friendships he cultivated and the projects that took him to Norway, Poland and England. He returned to Vermont frequently with his family, having built a log cabin in Morristown.

Dave’s father encouraged his keen interest in nature, the outdoors and conservation. Dave joined scouting in East Greenwich and was the youngest in RI to achieve Eagle Scout. Scouting remained an integral p art of Dave’s life including summers at Camp Yawgoog in Rockville, Rhode Island as a camper, office boy and finally Waterfront Director. In retirement, Dave worked with Scout troops and traveled with the Princeton, MA troop to the Allagash River in Maine and south to Florida and Washington, DC. Dave enjoyed camping with his young family in their intrepid Volkswagen Microbus, in which they adventured throughout Europe. He also loved to ski, snowshoe, sail, hike and especially play tennis. Dave and Christine took many cycling trips throughout Europe, the U.S. and Canada with friends. Dave had a passion for photography and also for playing the piano (Misty was his favorite piece). He was also a craftsman, designing and building his own home.

Active in his community, Dave was a working member of the Princeton Library Renovation Committee, serving as geologist and fundraiser. As a proponent for elderly and low-income housing, he was on the board of the Wachusett House Corporation, a member of the Princeton Conservation Commission and the Princeton Board of Health. Dave was also a member of the Wachusett Regional School Board for nine years.

The family wishes to thank the staff and caregivers at Knollwood Nursing Center and the Jewish Healthcare Hospice for their loving support. A Celebration of Life will take place on March 29th at 11:00 am at the First Congregational Church of Princeton. The burial will be private in Glenwood Historical Cemetery in East Greenwich, RI. Arrangements are by Callahan Fay Caswell Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the First Congregational Church of Princeton, 14 Mountain Road, Princeton, Massachusetts 01541.