David R. Nichols ’52

David R. Nichols ’52, of Princeton, Mass.; Jan. 13. After Brown, where he was a member of the cheerleading squad and active in Phi Gamma Delta, he earned a master’s degree in geology from Cornell University. His thesis helped map the bedrock geology of the coast of Rhode Island for the United States Geological Survey. He was then drafted into the U.S. Army Artillery Corps and was an instructor stationed at Fort Chaffee. Upon discharge, he began his career as an exploration geologist in Lowell, Vt. In 1961, he accepted an engineering position at Norton Company in Worcester, and he and his family settled in Princeton, where he had a 29-year career. He returned to Vermont frequently, having built a log cabin in Morristown. His interest in nature and the outdoors led him to join scouting, achieving the distinction of Eagle Scout, and working with many troops. He enjoyed photography, camping, sailing, hiking, cycling, and playing tennis and the piano. He was a member of the Princeton Library Renovation Committee, serving as geologist and fundraiser, and several local boards. He is survived by his wife, Christine; three children and their spouses; three grandchildren; four stepchildren and their spouses; seven step-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren.