Our beloved son, cherished brother (aka “Bubba” or “Nic”), devoted grandson, cool cousin, treasured nephew, and fiercely loyal friend passed away on July 1, 2026. He was 28 years old.
Nicolas was born on May 28, 1998. He knew how much he was loved and in addition to the roles above, it is in his passing that we have realized another important role he played: Nicolas was a teacher. He flew under the radar and could quietly sit at a table, but when he had something to say, it was to elevate the conversation. It was never just to be “right” or showboat — it was to get everyone else curious, too. And if there was something he didn’t understand, he would go off and study it. If there was someone he admired, he would observe how that person moved through the world, examine himself, and then do the work to mold those attitudes into his own spirit.
Nicolas was also remarkably kind. He cared about each of us, but maybe even more importantly, he cared about all of us. He was interested in world events not just for political reasons, but because he was deeply curious about humans and why we behave the way we do. He was fascinated by the discipline of militaries and read the likes of Winston Churchill. He understood that everything happening today has roots in historical events. With the recent debates around the Middle East, Nicolas decided to start reading the Old Testament to better understand the origins. That’s who he was.
Nicolas’ biggest passions were driving and shooting. He would go for long drives as often as he could, and you could find him at the shooting range every week. Nicolas also loved being outdoors, whether hiking, or rock climbing or scuba diving. He didn’t explore the easy way; he would challenge himself to reach new heights and explore the depth of beauty on this planet. And he was also the first person you would want to be stranded with on a deserted island.
Nicolas was incredibly close to each of his three siblings. Nicolas was Kailey’s younger brother, but she turned to him for advice on everything from finances to friendships. Any time Maverick made a major school decision, it would start with, “Bubba says I should….” Malala looked up to Nicolas as a protector and relished the moments when their 14-year gap disappeared, bonding over their love of dogs.
Nicolas graduated from Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences in 2016 and left Los Angeles to attend Morehouse College in Atlanta, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2020. He returned to Los Angeles after graduation and became a Public Policy Fellow at Netflix, then worked as a Staff Accountant at Ground Control Business Management. From 2023 to 2025, Nicolas was enrolled at the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California on a full-tuition Dean’s scholarship, where he earned a Master of Business Administration, concentrating on strategy and technology. After graduation, he became a Management Associate at LexisNexis.
Nicolas will be missed as fiercely as he was loved. We will carry his lessons forward until we meet again.
Nicolas is survived by his mother, Erika; father, Matt; stepmother, Yasmine; sister, Kailey; brother, Maverick; sister, Malala; grandmother, Genny; grandfather, Edmond; and grandfather, Dennis. He also leaves behind his dog, Leo.
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