About
Anne Louise Nicholas (March 22, 1960 – October 29, 2020)
Read Anne’s obituary.
Dear Poet Community,
My beloved wife Anne passed away this past October after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. She passed peacefully at her home in Chesapeake Beach, MD. No one who knew Anne will ever forget her unique wit, sparkling eyes, huge smile, and ringing laugh – and most of all, her warmth. She was delightful and engaging; family and friends echoed the sentiment that when you talked to Anne, you were the most important person in the world. She and I shared more than 23 years of marriage, and I miss her every day.
Anne arrived at Whittier as a transfer student; after stints at two other institutions, she found her home with the Poets. She maintained strong connections with her Whittier professors and classmates thereafter.
Whittier is where she met many lifelong friends and started her career in government, politics, and communications. She pursued graduate degrees in International Commerce and Policy and Broadcast Journalism, and worked for many years at C-SPAN, and then in communications for the American Bar Association, the Society for Neuroscience, and most recently, the International Society for Stem Cell Research.
Anne always said that her Whittier experience gave her the background, confidence, and connections to pursue her professional life in Washington, DC. She recognized the valuable foundation that Whittier provided: the education, mentoring, and contacts that supported her throughout her career and her life. And Anne remained engaged with Whittier and it's principles, in turn mentoring young professionals and participating in Whittier recruitment and send-off events for incoming first-year students.
To honor her, I have partnered with Whittier College to create the Anne Nicholas '83 Endowed Scholarship. This is a need-based scholarship that will support Whittier students wishing to pursue a career in political science or public affairs. We estimate that the initial gift will generate about $4,500/year in perpetuity for a scholarship award.
Thank you for helping us honor and memorialize Anne. When it is safe to gather in person, I will plan a celebration of her life and will provide details to the Poet Community.
With deep gratitude to Anne’s Whittier College family,
Charlie Fink
Washington, D.C.
PS: In addition to seeding the endowment from Anne’s and my estate, to thank those of you who may want to contribute to her scholarship, and to help kick start this effort, I offer a ONE-TO-ONE match of your gift of any amount, up to the maximum amount of $10,000 for all gifts in total.