Andrew Nichols

Andrew Nichols (Andras Miklos) born on June 20, 1914, passed way of natural causes in the early morning of April 13, 2014. He died as he lived, with peace and happiness, and getting ready for whatever the new day would offer. He was 99 years old. He was born just three months before the beginning of the First World War to Ethel Sicherman and Zoltan Miklos, in the village of Ungvar at the base of the Carpathian Mountains in Hungary where his family lived for countless generations. Known as "Bandi" to many, in his nearly 100 years Andrew lived an epic journey. He grew up playing in the forests and fishing the river near Ungvar, and in his young adulthood was arrested as a socialist organizer. Andrew attended law school at Karlova (Charles) University in Prague, Czechoslovakia and in 1936, he was just a week away from graduating when forced to flee the Nazi invasion, thus becoming a war refugee. Conscripted into the British Army, he served throughout many war zones from Europe to India until the end of the war. During his life Andrew became fluent in 5 languages and spoke another four. He immigrated to the United States and later become a citizen. Andrew was a very gentle person, quick to tell a joke, eat chocolate, and to identify with and encourage any underdog. As much as he knew terrible tragedy, including the death of almost his entire family in the Nazi concentration camps of Auschwitz and Mauthausen during WWII, Andrew always focused on enjoying life's simple pleasures like attending the Music Academy of the West, telling of his many adventures or visiting with family and friends. He always tried to find a way to see the positive in people and opportunities, often overlooking weaknesses in others. Honored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara, Andrew's story is featured in their permanent exhibit, Portraits of Survival: Life Journeys During the Holocaust and Beyond. He is survived and will be dearly missed by Evelyn, his wife of 30 years; daughter Tia and son-in-law Chris and granddaughter, Chisa; daughter Sheri and grandson Paul, his wife Terren and great-grandson Miles; step-daughter Wendy and her husband Mark; step-son Andy and his wife Nancy; niece Martha and her husband Peter, and great-niece Maddy; niece Sari and family; nephew Roberto, his wife Lucia and the Lukac family, and many friends throughout the world. In addition to his parents Zoltan and Ethel, and beloved aunt Mariska, Andrew was preceded in death by his brother Paul, sister Elizabeth Lukac, his cherished cousin/sister Madga, and the many family members and ancestors who eagerly await him in the Spirit World. A memorial viewing will take place at McDermott-Crockett Mortuary Chapel at 2020 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, California, on April 17, 2014 from 3pm - 5pm. A celebration of his amazing life will take place in June. In recognition of his legacy and generosity, donations may be sent to the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara, the Music Academy of the West, and/or the Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples. Arrangements by McDermott-Crockett Mortuary