Posted on 03/11/2019
John Paul Nickerson of Hyannis, MA fell asleep (passed away) unexpectedly February 15 2019 at the Providence VA Hospital while at a scheduled appointment. He was 83 years young. Born in Needham, MA in 1936 to the late Paul U. Nickerson and late Marion Murchison Nickerson. He was preceded in death by his younger sister, Mary Ann Pan of Bel Air, MD. John Paul was the valedictorian of the 1954 graduating class of Needham High School. His father passed away when he was 16 years of age. Shortly after John Paul received a congressional appointment to the Naval Academy. At seventeen he took the train from the 128 station to Annapolis where he entered with the class of 1958. While at the Academy he became head of the drama club, which ignited his lifelong love for acting. Upon graduation from Annapolis John Paul served aboard the USS J.C. Owens (DD776) rising to Operations Officer, then as Operations and Plans Officer for Commander Destroyer Division 122, both based in Norfolk, VA. John Paul then became ASW Officer and recovery ship Capsule Communicator for NASA MERCURY space program aboard USS Champlain (CVS-39) out of Quonset Point, Rl. His last assignment in the Navy was as Assistant for Intelligence Readiness on the joint staff of Commander in Chief Atlantic. After being honorably discharged from the Navy in 1965, he attended graduate school at George Washington University receiving a MS degree. During this time he was a secondary classroom teacher and mathematics faculty department chair in the Fairfax County Virginia public schools. John Paul loved this time of teaching and inspiring the younger generation. John Paul became CEO of a family firm in Boston, manufacturing and distributing fluid control devices. He then entered the field of management consulting with Booz, Allen & Hamilton, Inc. in NYC. Subsequently, he became principal and partner in two international management consulting firms. The Parallel Planning Corporation and Human Resource Services, Inc. Semi-retired from business in his early forties, John Paul was able to pursue two longtime interests, acting and treating the tragedy of addiction. He appeared on Broadway in "Heartland" and had small feature film roles in "The Verdict," "legal Eagles" and "Power." He made commercials and acted in daytime dramas "All My Children" and "One Life To Live." He enjoyed a recurring role as attorney Freddie Leighton on "Ryan's Hope." John Paul co-founded Pathways To Freedom, Inc., a charitable institute for public education about addiction and training of therapists in NYC. After institute training in NYC and courses at Harvard Medical School, John Paul was certified as an Addiction Specialist and founded a group psychotherapy practice which specializes in the treatment of addiction. The Pathways program is still in practice and has achieved one of the most successful treatment outcomes recorded in the East. He wrote a recent article, A Three Part Path Out Of Addiction, published in the Cape Cod Times, March 6, 2015. CCT also published an interview with John Paul concerning the late U.S. Sen. John McCain, his classmate at Annapolis, class of'58. This was published August 31, 2018. John Paul is survived by his loving ex-wife, Carolina Angel of New York City and his younger brother, David M. Nickerson of E. Harwich, MA. John Paul Nickerson was a man of integrity. His life was compassionate, courageous, heroic and honorable. He was loved by many. John Paul was an unbelievably kind and loving uncle to his three nephews, Jason Roderick Pan of Forest Hills, MD, Joshua David Nickerson, Reno, NV and Nathan Paul Nickerson, Fuquay-Varina, NC and to his beloved niece Sarah Rose Mascarenas, Reno, NV. JPN was also a loving great-uncle to five grand children. During his retirement on the Cape, John Paul was involved with AI-Anon, The Zen Meditation group, Tai Chi and Qi-Gong in Hyannis. John Paul also wrote several novellas and stories: Invisible Now; Fool; Fire Island Follies and Too Short. John Paul Nickerson will be greatly missed. His family looks forward to the Christian Hope of the Lord Jesus Christ and the victory over death. There will be a memorial celebration for his life in the near future. Any inquiries may be directed to his brother in Harwich: dmn537@yahoo.com. John Paul Nickerson was a faithful man. His creed: "Don't give up the ship."
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