Nik Garfinkle

Nik touched the lives and hearts of many people. We are hoping to raise money to lessen the financial burden on Nik's family, as they navigate this extremely difficult time. Nik's family will use this money to honor Nik with a celebration of life, have him cremated, and make sure his best buddy, Kobe (his dog) is taken care of. To honor Nik's memory, we will be donating any leftover funds to a charity in his honor. Nik's father, Adam, wrote a beautiful tribute to Nik - shared below. Thank you so much for your generosity, love, and for helping us keep Nik's legacy alive.

"It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of the passing of my beloved son, Nikolas. He peacefully passed away in his sleep yesterday, leaving us all with a profound sense of sadness and loss.

Nik was a wonderful son, loving brother to his big sister Alexa, a great friend and human being. His kindness, caring nature, and dry sense of humor endeared him to everyone he met.

Nik was proud of his Jewish heritage, but he was mostly deeply spiritual and believed in the interconnectedness of all things.

Although my daughter Alexa and I are devastated by his loss, we take comfort in knowing that Nik is no longer in pain and has found peace. As his father, I always believed that Nik was a gift from his sister Marissa, who passed away before he was born. I believe he has been returned to Mariisa and reunited.

Nik struggled with severe depression for most of his life. He endured immense pain and tried valiantly to overcome his condition. Nik was not ashamed of his illness, and was a brave advocate for the mental health community. While he endured his own struggles Nik worked to bring more awareness to this silent disease.

Despite his own struggles, he found joy in helping others and aspired to be a psychedelic therapist.

Nik's compassion extended beyond mental health advocacy. He traveled to Poland during the war in Ukraine to deliver clothing and medical supplies to refugees. He also volunteered with World Central Kitchen to ensure that refugees received food and compassionate care.

Nik was my hero, and his passing has left a deep void in my and Alexa’s life.

To honor his legacy, I will continue to work tirelessly to help others affected by mental illness. Nik's spirit will live on through the countless lives he touched, and his memory will always be a source of inspiration for us all.

I love Nikolas deeply and will miss him every day of my life."

There will be a celebration of life on May 6th at Brewers at 4001 Yancey in Charlotte, NC. 12-3pm. Thank you again for helping us honor Nik.