Obituary of Matthew Joseph Nicholas

Matthew Joseph Nicholas, 36, of Herndon VA passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2020.

Born at Fort Polk, Louisiana on October 18, 1983, Matt was the son of Michael D. and Maryann C. Nicholas of Sterling, Virginia. 

Matt attended Saint Joseph School in Herndon and graduated in 2002 from Herndon High School, where he played football, lacrosse and ran track.  He played club lacrosse at Radford University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Education in 2007 and received his teachers license for Elementary Education.  For five summers, Matt also “lived the dream” as a beach lifeguard and member of the Longport Beach Patrol in beautiful South Jersey. 

Professionally, Matt taught elementary school physical education for a few years in Fairfax County, but his love of teaching was centered at Dranesville Elementary School in Herndon, where he served as an aide for special needs children. He had a gift for that challenging calling.

Matt was an avid life-long fan of the Washington Redskins, and his social calendar was planned around their games. He had a huge heart and never took himself seriously.  He was the peace-maker in every situation. For many years, he played “Santa” on Christmas Eve for our large family gathering, and he loved that role.  He also loved to golf and was the kind of person who never got upset about a bad shot. You never played a bad round if you played with Matt.He accomplished the impossible and made golf fun.

Matt was blessed with many cousins on both sides of his family, and he grew up spending wonderful summers with them on the beach in South Jersey. He was close to all of them and loved them very much. He was also devoted to his nephew, Davis, and niece, Lainey.  And in addition to a very large extended family, Matt loved working with the staff team at Dranesville Elementary School. 

During the last year of his life, Matt fought a long battle with liver disease. It was relentless and got progressively worse, despite the efforts of many talented and dedicated professionals at multiple hospitals.  He passed away peacefully at Reston Hospital with his mother and father.

Matthew is survived by his parents, Michael and Maryann Nicholas, his brother Michael D. Nicholas, sister-in-law Brooke Alexander Nicholas, and Davis and Lainey.  He also leaves behind 18 aunts and uncles, 40 first cousins, and many more grieving family members.

Due to the current COVID virus crisis, there will be no reception or funeral until it is once again possible to gather friends and family together. When possible, the funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church in Sterling, Virginia. Burial is planned for Chestnut Grove Cemetery in Herndon, which is right across the street from Herndon High School.

It is our hope to conduct this ceremony in October, and we will post that specific information to our friends, family, and invited guests. 

Our family is grateful for the outpouring of love and sympathy, and for the many flowers and gifts already sent to us. If anyone would still like to send something in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to “Autism Speaks”:

https://act.autismspeaks.org/site/Donation2?idb=131308563&4141.donation=form1&DONATION_LEVEL_ID_SELECTED=1&df_id=4141&mfc_pref=T&idb=[[S76:idb]]

Arrangements entrusted to Adams Green Funeral Home. 

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