Christopher P. Nicholas ’71

We lost our highly regarded classmate Chris Nicholas in Brooklyn, NY on November 12, 2022 after a long battle with prostate and thyroid cancer and a rapidly progressive neurogenerative disease.

Chris came to Princeton from Babylon HS on Long Island with a passion for sports. He immersed himself in the Princeton sports scene as an extraordinary head manager of the Tiger football and baseball teams. Regarded as a teammate, the baseball team fondly nicknamed him the Great Doctor. He was well-regarded for his diplomatic rulings on hits and errors in his role as scorekeeper. His love of sports had been fueled by his opportunity to serve as ball boy for the NY Jets (where his father served as team physician). Chris loved nothing more than to lounge at Tower Club and quiz his buddies about current events in the world of sports. He delighted in playing forward on the Tower IAA B basketball team and first baseman on the softball team (both of which won championships). Chris majored in philosophy, graduated with honors, and became a born-again Christian junior year. Classmates remember him for his good nature and boundless enthusiasm. He married Mary Yee and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1974. Chris and Mary then moved to Brooklyn as their permanent home and workplace.

Chris initially worked at Willkie Farr & Gallagher, then Prudential and finally in the General Counsel office for Metropolitan Insurance Company for 21 years, retiring in 2005. He was very active in his local congregations, the Princeton Christian Fellowship and the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism. He also enjoyed conducting tours, studying musical scores and mentoring young stars of the Metropolitan Opera.

The Class extends its condolences to Mary, their three sons, Matthew, Michael and Gregory, and other friends and family.