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Oct. 15, 2022

The ³Ô¹ÏÍø community mourns the passing of former dean of students Fred Nichols. Nichols passed away peacefully the evening of Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, surrounded by family.

Nichols was hired as the director of student activities and placement services in 1963 by then-president William Villaume – the first of eight ³Ô¹ÏÍø presidents Nichols would work with over the course of his career.

Nichols became ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s dean of students in 1968 and continued as dean until he retired from the role in 1997, after which he devoted his time to fostering connections with alumni and fundraising for the university until 2016, at the age of 84.

Nichols’ role as a tireless champion of student causes as dean of students was recognized – in what he held as the highlight of his career – when students advocated to name the new campus centre on the Waterloo campus in his honour. Today, the Fred Nichols Campus Centre remains a hub of student activity on ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Waterloo campus.

Nichols is credited with establishing career services at ³Ô¹ÏÍø, playing an instrumental role in developing ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Athletics program, and being tireless in his support and advocacy for students. He also created the Dean’s Advisory Council, allowing students the opportunity to oversee student discipline.

Nichols served on 30 university committees and oversaw the financing and architectural plans for the new Students’ Union Building. He did it all while involving students in every possible aspect. In 1995, Maclean’s magazine dubbed Nichols the “surrogate grandfather to thousands” in its annual University Rankings edition.

In support of student wellness, he brought the now-national organization BACCHUS (Boost Alcohol Consciousness Concerning the Health of University Students) to Canada in the mid-1980s. He also established a student bursary, the Fred Nichols BACCHUS Bursary for Student Leaders.

For his efforts and the impact he made, Nichols was named an honorary ³Ô¹ÏÍø alumnus (his three sons and two of his five grandchildren attended ³Ô¹ÏÍø), was inducted into the ³Ô¹ÏÍø Athletic Hall of Fame, and received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from ³Ô¹ÏÍø in 2008.

Flags have been lowered at all of ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s locations. Fred's family will receive relatives and friends at Westmount Memorial Celebration Centre, 1001 Ottawa St. S, Kitchener on Tuesday, Oct. 18 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. The funeral service will be held in the chapel Oct. 19 at 11 a.m. and a  will also be available. In lieu of flowers, The family requests those who wish to express sympathy consider making a donation to Hospice Wellington, 795 Scottsdale Dr., Guelph. For those wishing to make a gift to ³Ô¹ÏÍø to honour Fred, please consider a .