Robert James Nicholl

Bob Nicholl died October 26,2022 at the ripe old age of 93, just short of his 94 birthday. Bob was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on November 4,1928. He was the only child of Cliff and Gladys (nee Strandquist) Nicholl. Bob’s dad worked for General Motors and as a result of his frequent transfers, Bob lived in a number of cities in Western Canada. He attended 11 schools in 12 years. Like most young boys growing up in Canada, Bob was an avid hockey player until his ambitions were overtaken by his lack of skills on the ice. While in grade 12 in Edmonton, Bob met and fell in love with Lois Haigh who he dated for 4 years while he was attending the University of Alberta in Edmonton. He graduated with a degree in Science in 1951. While at the university, he was a reserve ofUicer in the Royal Canadian Air Force and attained the rank of Flight Lieutenant as an armaments officer. He was also a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. After he graduated, Lois and Bob married on September 10,1951 and left for a honeymoon in Toronto. They then moved to London, Ontario where Bob was enrolled in the graduate school of business at the University of Western Ontario, the only business school in Canada at that time. Lois worked and supported Bob in his endeavors. After business school, he accepted a position in the Hudson’s Bay Company in Calgary, Alberta as a management trainee. He became a department manager before deciding that retail merchandizing was not the way he wanted to spend his career. In 1956, Bob changed careers and became an oil man with the Canadian subsidiary of Mobil Oil Corp. He spent his first few months working on company oil rigs and oil field maintenance crews. He then had a number of positions in the Production and Finance departments.Their three children, Karen, Bruce and Derek were all born in Calgary. In 1965, he was transferred to NYC to work for Mobil Oil’s International Department. From 1970-1988, he worked for Mobil Oil’s exploration and production department. In 1970, he transferred to Singapore, the first of many international moves. He was then assigned to New York (twice), London (twice) and Calgary. He retired from Mobil Oil in 1988 while in London the last time. Lois and Bob built their dream house in Sudden Valley where they lived for 19 years. Bob was an avid golfer and enjoyed boating on Lake Whatcom. He and Lois had a passion for travelling and visited many countries, including all the world’s continents and oceans. They visited their children and grandchildren in various locations in the US and Canada. Bob was a past board member of the Bellingham Festival of Music and the Whatcom Symphony, and was a member of the Rotary Club of Bellingham. He was a member of the Building Committee of the Mt. Baker Theater during two phases of theater improvements. Bob loved reading, teaching his granddaughters how to play competitive pool, writing his memoir, and watching sporting events live or on TV. He was delighted to have lived long enough to witness flat screen and high definition TV, the advent of digital technology with iPhones and iPads. Bob is survived by his wife and best friend Lois (after 71 wonderful years of marriage), his three children: Karen, Bruce (Cathy), and Derek; four granddaughters: Amanda (Matt), Erika (Sean), Claire (Taylor), Britt (Zach); and three great grandsons: Kameron, Isaac, and Oliver. At his request, there will be no formal funeral service.

Robert James Nicholl

November 4, 1928 - October 26, 2022