Jeane A. Nicholson of Hampton Bays died on December 15. She was 68.
As a life-long resident of Hampton Bays, she had many close ties to the town and its community. Growing up, she attended grade school at the local elementary school before attending Mercy High School in Riverhead, and later, the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City for fashion and advertising design.
Coming from a Hampton Bays firefighter family, she became a baton twirler for the Hampton Bays Fire Department band, where paths crossed with James “ Jimmy” Nicholson, who would later become her husband. They had two girls during their 40 years of marriage, Jennifer, born in 1985, and Jaime, born in 1988.
While her main job was as a “domestic engineer,” she also made sure to help out anywhere she could over the years. That included anything from babysitting out of her home, chaperoning for many field trips for either of her daughter’s school classes and even becoming a coordinator for the Board of Elections.
As her daughters grew, she was always welcoming to the other children her daughters became friends with over the years, opening her home and heart to all with an endless supply of her amazing homemade baked goods. One of these lucky friends, Nina Tripodi, earned a place in her heart and became forever known as her adopted daughter.
She was predeceased by her parents, John Baucum Sr. and Doris Baucum.
She is survived by her husband of 40 years, James R. Nicholson; her daughters, Jennifer Nicholson and Jaime Nicholson; adopted daughter Nina Tripodi; granddaughter Kaitlyn Rose Silvani; brother John Baucum Jr; niece/goddaughter Katherine Baucum-Nogueras; and many more loving family and friends.
Wake services will be held at Scott-Rothwell Funeral Home on Ponquogue Avenue in Hampton Bays on Monday, December 18, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., with firematic services at 7:30pm. A funeral service will also be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, December 19, at 1 p.m. A gathering to celebrate her life will be held following the funeral services on at Hampton Bays Fire Department Station One on Ponquogue Avenue in Hampton Bays.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Hampton Bays Volunteer Ambulance Corps (hbvac.org) or the Hampton Bays Fire Department (hamptonbaysfiredept.org).
Staff Writer on Dec 17, 2023