A long-time advocate who looked for the good while helping to fight the bad will be honored Tuesday by the Unitarian Universalists Fellowship.
Duane Nichols died June 14.
Longtime friend, Bill Reger-Nash has planned a service to honor Nichols from 11 a.m.-noon Tuesday at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 429 Warrick St., Morgantown.
Nichols was a long-standing member and leader of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
Tuesday’s service is open to the public. For additional information, contact Reger-Nash at BillRegerNash@gmail.com; or 304-685-6740.
Nichols was an advocate for social justice, environmental justice, women’s rights, clean air, clean water and people without a voice. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Sue
Miles-Nichols; daughter, Tracy Connell Hancock (Christopher Burns); and stepdaughter, Jane Cecil (Matt Brengman); and six grandchildren.
Nichols was a chemical engineer and energy technologist, civil rights leader and environmental activist.
He was born and raised in Tyler County, graduated from Paden City High School and West Virginia University and obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Delaware.
At West Virginia University, he was head of the fossil energy section at the Research Triangle Institute, and was senior process engineer with the Conoco Coal Development Corp. and a group leader for CONSOL R&D.
Nichols championed environmental awareness with the Mon Valley Clean Air Coalition, Cheat Lake Environment and Recreation Association and FrackCheckWV blog. In 2011, he was awarded the West Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club “Unsung Hero Award.” In 2014, he was inducted into the WVU Department of Chemical Engineering Academy of Chemical Engineers.
Memorial contributions can be mailed to Cheat Lake Environment and Recreation Association (CLEAR), 320 Dream Catcher Circle, Morgantown, WV 26508 (cheatlakeclear.org/); or Paden City Public Library, 114 South 4th Ave., Paden City, WV 26159-1494 (padencitylibrary.org/).
