Obituary of Dr. Peter Nichols
Born on August 28, 1923, Peter passed away peacefully at home on November 7, 2021. Peter, age 98, is survived by his loving wife of 71 years Amanda, daughter Diane (Kurt) Hoffmeyer, sons Dr. Jeffrey and Peter J. Nichols, grandchildren Katie (Brad) Schmidgall and Ken Hoffmeyer, and great-grandchildren Madison and Mackenzie Schmidgall. He was preceded in death by his parents Paul and Eugenia, brothers Otis and James, and son Paul Nichols.
Peter was born and raised on the north side of Chicago and was a loyal Cubs and Bears fan. He enjoyed sports, reading, traveling, and dancing the jitterbug. During his youth in Chicago, he was a cab driver, worked at the Sutcliffe Pharmacy 7 days a week, 7 hours a day for $7.00, and worked the midnight shift at the Chicago Tribune.
Peter joined the U.S. Army and served in England and France during World War II from 1943 to 1946. Upon returning, he completed his undergraduate degree at Loyola University Chicago and graduated from Loyola Dental School in 1952.
Shortly after his army discharge, he met Amanda Alexander and they were married in 1950. They moved to Joliet where they raised their children in a loving, faith-filled family. They were active members of All Saints Greek Orthodox Church where Peter taught the Sunday School teen class for 20 years, served on the Church Board, and chaired the Endowment Committee.
Peter was a life member of the American Dental Society and the Will County Dental Society and a Hellenic American Dental Society. He was an instructor and Assistant Professor of Diagnosis at Loyola University Dental School. Peter was a staff member at Provena St. Joseph Medical Center for over 25 years and served for a time as chair of the dental staff. He was a member of the American Society for Preventive Dentistry and the Illinois Academy of Dental Practice management.
Peter participated in various organizations. He was a member of the Joliet Rotary Club for over fifty years and served as its President in 1979-80. He was also past President of the YMCA Board of Trustees and the Joliet Junior College Foundation Board. He served on the boards of the Joliet Federal Savings, the Joliet Chamber of Commerce, St. Patrick Retirement Home, St. Joseph College of Nursing and was the Thunderbird District Chairman of the Boy Scout Explorers. He was honored by the Joliet Junior College Alumni Association Hall of Fame Award in 1995, the Spirit Rotary Award in 1997, and the Lewis University De La Salle Award in 2010 for his community service.
Visitation for Dr. Nichols will be Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black at Essington Rds., Joliet from 4-8 p.m. with a Trisagion Service at 6:00 p.m Funeral Services Thursday, November 11, 2021 at 9:15 a.m. from the funeral home to All Saints Greek Orthodox Church, 102 N. Broadway St., Joliet for services at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to All Saints Greek Orthodox Church Endowment Fund, Joliet Junior College Nichols Endowed Scholarship, or Lightways Hospice, formerly Joliet Area Community Hospice. For more information, please call (815) 741-5500 or you may visit his Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com where you can share a favorite memory or leave an online condolence.
