SAUGUS ― Among the many accolades directed toward Greg Nickolas since his death earlier this week, this one stands out: He loved being a Sachem.
“He was a picture of what Saugus is all about,” said Selectman Debra Panetta. “He was strong, generous and kind, and he had a particular focus on the youth of the town.”
Nickolas, the town’s youth and recreation director, died Tuesday of complications from COVID-19. He was 58, and a fixture in the town for more than 40 years, said School Committeeman John Hatch.
“First, he was a tremendous athlete at Saugus High,” Hatch said. “Then he became involved with the community. The work ― the outreach work ― he did with youth teams and families at risk, and with substance abuse, was like nobody else had done.
“Yet he did it in an unassuming way,” Hatch said. “He never looked for any reward or recognition. But the amount of families and individuals who benefited from his care and concern for them.”
“This is tough, personally for me,” said Town Manager Scott Crabtree, “but also tough for the town. This has been an awfully tragic year for us.”
Actually, the losses incurred by the Saugus community began in the middle of 2020 with the sudden death of former selectman Stephen Horlick. In December, high school basketball coach Mark Bertrand died accidentally while working in his yard. John O’Brien, another pioneer of Saugus basketball, died last year too.
This year, the town lost longtime clerk for the Board of Selectmen Wendy Reed.
“All of these people were about the same age, too,” said Crabtree, “We’ve had so much loss in this town.
“This one is a tough blow,” he added. “He was my good friend. My heart goes out to his wife, Deborah, and his family. We’ve been fighting this virus for so long now.”
“He was a tremendous asset to the youth of Saugus,” said Jim Alcott, Nickolas’ brother-in-law. “His faith was a big thing with him. His whole family has struggled with (COVID) for the last 10 days or so. One thing about him was that he always used to say ‘don’t judge anybody.'”
Perhaps that’s because Nickolas had issues himself when he was younger. But, said Anthony Cogliano, chair of the Board of Selectmen, Nickolas overcame those issues and was willing to share them, and his struggles, with others in the same boat.
“Greg led by example,” said Cogliano. “He had his problems in the past and he wasn’t afraid to share them. He’d tell kids and families how he did it. And he got really big into the church.
“He loved helping kids,” Cogliano said. “It was the biggest part of his job. He was a phenomenal employee of the town.”
Aside from his official job with the town, Nickolas was heavily involved in “Saugus Speaks Out,” an anti-drug group in the town.
“Greg spoke out,” said Panetta. “He was one of the true leaders in that organization. He brought the drug issue into the limelight so that people knew what was going on. The only way you can address an issue like that is if people know about it.”
Not only that, said Panetta, he was a driving force in keeping the Youth and Recreation Center open.
“That is significant,” she said. “He was always there to make sure issues regarding our youth were recognized.”
As if all that wasn’t enough, when Donna Gould decided it was time to step down as organizer of Founders Day, Nickolas stepped up to the plate.
“From town sports, youth and recreation, holiday parades, community gatherings, helping folks with addiction issues, field management, and more, Greg was always there to lead the charge and make Saugus a better place, and someplace special,” said Selectman Jeff Cicolini. “He always saw the good in people and he took the time to get to know you.
“When Donna Gould decided it was time to pass the baton as the longtime organizer of Founders Day, it was Greg who immediately answered the call. From town sports, youth and recreation, holiday parades, community gatherings, helping folks with addiction issues, field management etc., Greg was always there to lead the charge to make Saugus a better place and someplace special. Greg was one who always saw the good in people and he took the time to get to know you.”
Both Hatch and Cogliano say they looked up to Nickolas as young children in the town.
“He was a tremendous athlete,” said Hatch, “an amazing football player. He and his friends were awesome. It’s tough. A lot of guys from that era, for one reason or another, have passed away. It was such a tight-knit group, too.”
“I always looked up to him,” said Cogliano. “He was such a positive role model for kids.
Said Cicolini, “Anyone who is lucky enough to have met a guy like Greg once in a lifetime is considered fortunate. And to call him a friend is an honor.”
