Support Nicole Niehoff's Sons After Tragic Loss

Today, the Portland Fire Department and Maine Fire Warden's Office released the name of my sister, Nicole Niehoff, as one of the victims of the catastrophic fire on St. Lawrence Street in the Munjoy Hill neighborhood. It is a devastating loss for so many in Portland and the surrounding communities who knew and loved her. Receiving an overwhelming request for how people can help, this fund will help us arrange to both honor her memory and set up her sons with support.

About Nicole

A single mother, she leaves behind two amazing sons who were her world. Not only did these two young men lose their only parent, but their rock who they depended on for so much. She was a superstar mom and moved mountains for her boys, while managing to work full-time, compassionately support her extensive network of friends, and finish her college degree in Education. Just obtaining her teaching certification a year ago, she began her new career as a kindergarten teacher and was passionately looking forward to new, creative ideas that integrated nature into classroom learning for her young students. Her future was looking bright.

The needs of her sons

Nicole's sons are both in college, as a rising freshman and rising junior here in Maine (Art/Design and Poli-Sci/Geography majors respectively). In addition to losing their mother, this fire was a total loss of all their possessions and their home.

While they are thankfully safe with immediate housing, they require clothing, food, and essentials for short-term needs, while also needing to navigate health insurance, phone plans, transportation, housing, and college expenses into their new future reality. They are both really amazing people—kind, caring, genuine, articulate, talented, smart-as-heck, and also very well respected in their community. This is an absolutely devastating loss for them and will likely take time to even realize the extent of their needs.

Thank you for your support

I want to thank the community of friends, family, and community members who have already reached out and offered their support. I hope this offers an option for those who want to give. I know collectively every little bit will help get my nephews set up as they navigate the rocky path forward, and it is much appreciated.