James Nice

JAMES RICHARD NICE, aged 73 years, passed away May 28, 2016, beloved husband of Denise (nee Crompton), dear father of LCDR Jesse, USN. (wife Allison), fond brother of the late Robert. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made at the funeral home.

James Richard Nice was born January 10,1943 in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Helen Nice (nee Forster), and Harold (Hank) Nice. He resided there until 1950, when the family moved to Cleveland Heights, OH, for Harold’s work with the Harshaw Chemical Company. From an early age, he was active in theatre and music, graduating from Lutheran East High School in 1961. He worked for several years with the Heights Youth Theatre, involved in technical theatre crafting lighting, sound, and sets, under the dynamic director Jerry Leonard.

An accomplished musician, songwriter, bass player, and vocalist, he played with multiple groups across the country, bringing his talents to some of the founding institutions of the Cleveland music scene, including La Cave. He, and groups he played with had the privilege of opening for such talented artists as Gordon Lightfoot, The Smothers Brothers, Peter, Paul & Mary, Arlo Guthrie, and many other notable folk musicians of the period.

In the early 1980’s he retired from music to practice his other trade, that of a residential electrician full time. Working for years hand-in-hand with his brother Robert, he aided families across the Cleveland area, performing all manner of repairs and improvements. In the late 1980’s he went back to college, completing his Associates Degree at Cuyahoga Community College, and with his wife Denise, started a second career as a Realtor, which he practiced for over two decades, until resuming his electrical work full time in 2009.

He was a lover of good music, the telling of great stories, and the outdoors, and would frequently spend his vacation time camping with his wife in the many beautiful parks surrounding the Pymatuning Reservoir on the Ohio/Pennsylvania border.

Family will receive friends to pay tribute and celebrate the life of Jim at THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF SOUTH EUCLID, 4600 MAYFIELD RD. (just East of Green Rd.) SATURDAY AFTERNOON JUNE 4, 2016 FROM 2 PM. UNTIL CONCLUDING SERVICE AT 4:30 PM