On Monday, May 25, 2026, Victor Woodrow Nicholas Jr. of Ellicott City, Maryland, passed away. Born on March 6, 1958, in Washington, D.C., he was the son of Victor Woodrow Nicholas Sr. and Fern Goode Porter.

Victor was the beloved husband of Marsha Lynn Burke Nicholas and the devoted father of William Victor Nicholas and Natalia Lynn Nicholas and her fiancé, Kyle G. Wende. He was the devoted brother of Aaron A. Nicholas, DDS, and his wife, Anahit Hakobyan. He is also remembered with love by his many cousins, extended family members, and friends.

Victor was a gentle soul with a lifelong love for people, animals, and the natural world. He believed deeply in learning and helping others. In 1993, he graduated from the University of Maryland with his second degree, specializing in special education. He went on to serve as both a teacher and a bus driver for the Anne Arundel County Public School System.

During the summers, Victor worked with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s Special Populations Swim and Gym program. His patience, kindness, and quiet compassion made him especially well suited for work that touched the lives of children and families.

Victor’s faith was an important part of his life. He was a member of the men’s Bible study group at Bethany United Methodist Church, where he valued fellowship, reflection, and time spent with others.

Victor loved all things flora and fauna. He became a Master Gardener through the University of Maryland and participated in numerous organizations that reflected his wide-ranging interests. These included the Orchid Society, the Turtle and Tortoise Society of Maryland, the African Violet Society, the North American Butterfly Association, and the Succulent Society.

His love of animals began early. As a young person, Victor cared for an extraordinary assortment of pets, including toads, frogs, guinea pigs, an iguana, saltwater fish, a ball python, a boa constrictor, a black rat snake, and, at one point, 32 garter snakes.

That enthusiasm carried into the next generation. He inspired his daughter, Natalia, to share his interest in reptiles, and she kept crested geckos and a rosy boa constrictor of her own. His son, William, regularly helped keep Victor’s extensive assortment of plants alive—a particularly important responsibility since Victor’s wife and daughter were, as the family lovingly described them, “certified plant assassins.”

Victor will be remembered for his gentle spirit, his curiosity, his love of growing things, and his remarkable ability to care for creatures of every kind. He found beauty and wonder in the world around him and shared that appreciation with his family, friends, students, church community, and fellow nature enthusiasts.

He leaves behind a legacy of kindness, patience, learning, faith, and love—one that will continue to grow in the lives of everyone who knew him.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life memorial service on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Bethany United Methodist Church, 2875 Bethany Lane, Ellicott City, Maryland 21042.