John Nickola

NICKOLA, John David - Age 78, of Flint Twp., died Tuesday, July 16, 2019. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 AM Saturday, July 20, 2019 at Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church, 4133 Calkins Rd., Flint with Rev. Fr. Pierre Bassil celebrant. Visitation will be held 4 PM - 8 PM Friday at Sharp Funeral Homes, Fenton Chapel, 1000 W. Silver Lake Rd., Fenton and from 10 AM until the time of mass Saturday at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org). John was born October 27, 1940 in Flint, the son of David and Mary Moses (Bayeh) Nickola. Mr. Nickola was a veteran of the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant and served in the Army Reserve and National Guard. He has been a trial lawyer in Flint for over 50 years and extremely active in the Genesee County community.  His involvement includes being a 53 Year member - State Bar of Michigan, Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate - National Board of Trial Advocacy, Michigan Trial Lawyers Association (Board of Directors 1987-1990), American Trial Lawyers Association (Sustaining Member), Genesee County Bar Association, Shiawassee County Bar Association, Flint Trial Lawyers Association (Vice President 1972-1974; President 1975-1976), Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Michigan Democratic Party, Genesee County Democratic Party, Fraternal Order of Police, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Arab American Heritage Council. He married Barbara Menear on October 28, 2005 and was a member of Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church. Surviving are: wife, Barbara; two sons, David Nickola of Fenton, John (Nicole) Nickola of South Carolina; six grandchildren, Cal, Cameron, Olivia, AvaBella, Hunter and Caleb; nephew, Ted Valley; two nieces, Sue Valley and Honorable Vikki Bayeh Haley; great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by: his parents; brother, David Nickola; three sisters, Jeanne Valley, Diane Bayeh, and Anne Nickola. Tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.