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John E. Nicholson
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John E. Nicholson | Retired educator, 85
John E. Nicholson, 85, a retired educator at the Westtown School , died of complications from Alzheimer's disease Feb. 23 at Kendall-Crosslands, a retirement community in Kennett Square.
Mr. Nicholson graduated from Westtown, a private Quaker School. During World War II he was a conscientious objector and served in the Civilian Public Service in Maryland and Oregon. He later worked for the American Friends Service Committee, organizing donated clothing and helping to care for livestock on ships bound for Poland.
In 1948 he earned a bachelor's degree from Earlham College in Indiana, where he met his future wife, Bertha May Pearson. He earned a master's degree in philosophy, history, and bible from Haverford College.
Mr. Nicholson began his teaching career at Friends Academy on Long Island and then taught at Germantown Friends School for four years. From 1958 to 1988 he was on the faculty of Westtown School. He taught social studies, bible and Quakerism, coached soccer, and for 21 years headed Westtown's middle school. In summers he was assistant director at a boy's camp in Maine.
After retiring, he visited Quaker groups in the United States and participated in work study programs at a Friends School in Ramallah on the West Bank. He believed in living his religion and teaching by example, his son John T. said.
Mr. Nicholson served on the boards of the Wissahickon Boys Club and Pendle Hill, a Quaker study center in Wallingford, and was active on Philadelphia Yearly Meeting committees.
He enjoyed woodworking, landscaping, and helping stage plays at Kendall-Crosslands, where he lived for 14 years. He and his wife previously lived in West Chester.
In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Nicholson is survived by sons James and David; a brother; and 14 grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Kendall-Crosslands, 1660 E. Street. Rd., Kennett Square.
