Sending Nick home.

Hi, my name is Howard. Nick passed away at his home October 3rd in St Louis Mo. where he has spent the last few months working on a project with a crew running fiberoptics cable for high speed internet service.

 

I met Nick almost 20 years ago here in Chicago. He came straight up to me on a jobsite and told me that he was an expert at doing AV install work. Not knowing what to think, I called him to join me on my next install. He was not lying. He was very skilled in the field. I continued to use him regularly for all of my installations. We became good friends and almost like family in the years to follow working in Chicago and around the country on many job sites. He was very kind, smart and hardworking. He loved his family back in Mexico. He often spoke fondly of the memories of his mother and father. He regularly reached out to his siblings and their families back in Mexico helping them as much as he could. He easily made many friends everywhere he ventured. He loved NFL football, especially the San Francisco 49’ers. He also loved his favorite Mexican soccer team. His favorite past time was to get out of the crowded city and into nature. If he could find time to go camping and fishing he would always jump at the chance. He loved music. Especially hard rock bands. Metallica was his favorite. Guns N’ Roses a close second. If we finished up an install with a particularly big sound system, he was always ready to test it out with his favorite songs. He also would go to see the bands in concert whenever possible. Nick loved cooking and also eating. We were always on a quest to find the best tacos anywhere we would be working. We always were able to make high pressure and long hours on projects more enjoyable with great tacos and good conversation after.

 

To be honest, Nick also had some issues with his mental health. The same as so many others out there. He did the best he could to stay on top of those issues. As we all know, affordable healthcare is expensive and not readily available for everyone out there. I let him know that he didn’t have to fight those issues alone. Always trying to be understanding to the issues he was facing.

 

Nick had a plan to go back to Mexico soon. He wanted to be with his family. He wanted to farm the land he and his sisters had inherited from his parents. He also had a dream to open a small bar in his hometown as well.

 

So for those of us that know Nick, who have worked or crossed paths with him, who are his friends and have enjoyed his company, let’s send him home to be with his family. I am asking for your help. Please donate what you can to send him back to his sisters and their families back in Mexico. The funeral home in St. Louis estimates it will be about $6500. If we have any extra, I am hoping we can share it with his sisters to cover any expenses they may have with his burial there. Thanks in advance for your generosity.

The following is from Nick’s sister Araceli…

Queridos Amigos de Nick. Hoy con gran pesar comunico que el a fallecido. Le pido lo que recuerden con gran cariño y como el era sin más. Agradezco su atención atte su mamá y hermanos.