Nick J. Paradiso, Jr.

Nick J. Paradiso Jr. of Watkins Glen, NY passed on April 30, 2024.

Nick grew up in Watkins Glen, graduated from Syracuse University, married Terry, the girl of his dreams in 1967 and together they had three children, spent his working years at the State University of New York with stops in New Paltz, Albany and Syracuse before returning to Watkins Glen when he retired. He took great pride in his work with the University and when he left his last post at the College of Environmental Science and Forestry, the Board of Trustees granted him status as Vice President Emeritus. He served on a variety of boards including school boards in Guilderland and Syracuse, planning boards in the Village of Manlius and the Town of Reading, the University Hill Corporation and the Metropolitan Development Association in Syracuse, the SUNY Business Officers and Human Resource Associations, the National Association of College and University Business Officers, the College and University Personnel Association and was a founding board member of Habitat for Humanity in Schuyler County.

Nick especially enjoyed spending time with his best friend Terry and the rest of his family, having his sons grow to become his friends and watching his grandchildren mature from babies to adults with lives of their own. He and Terry took several great trips going across country by both car and train, to Mexico, the Bahamas, Hawaii, Alaska, Italy, France, and Ireland. He was a fan of the late President John Fitzgerald Kennedy who taught him the virtues of public service, the author James Michener, yellow Mustang convertibles, the movie Field of Dreams, the New York Yankees and anything Syracuse Orange. In his spare time, he played a little golf, did some fishing, read hundreds of books, and managed to coach several little league baseball teams, each of which was a variation of the Bad News Bears. What the teams may have lacked in on field success, they more than made up for with learning the value and joy of being a member of a team.

He was predeceased by his lovely daughter Kristen, his parents Nick and Lucy, his sisters Mary Lou and Rosanne, his brother Bill,  his in-laws, Ken and Jean Nusspickel and is survived by his wife, Terry, their sons Nick (Cindy) and Dan (Heather),  son in law Chris Ricci along with grandchildren Joshua (Kirsten), Taylor (Kody), Zach (Hannah), Dana (Josh), Samantha, Daniel and Max and great grandchildren Kennedy, Kanien, and Ren.

In honor of Nick’s love for the fall season in the finger lakes region of New York State, the family will hold a celebration of Nick’s life in Watkins Glen, NY in September.

Nick was especially passionate about addressing hunger in our country. He believed that nobody should ever worry about where to find their next meal. He and Terry were proud to support the Food Bank of the Southern Tier. Should people wish to do so, contributions can be made to the Food Bank in memory of Nick.  In addition, or in lieu of any such contributions, Nick simply asked for acts of kindness towards others, whether friends, family or strangers.  

Condolences may be offered to the family online in his obituary at www.RoyceChedzoy.com.  

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