Dennis James Nicholson

Dennis James Nicholson was born on November 5, 1950, in Los Angeles, California to Cal and Renie Sabo. He died on August 10, 2025, in a Seattle hospital due to complications of cancer. He is survived by his wife Shirley of 51 years, his sons Sean and Casey, his mother Renie, brother Mick (Lin), sister Kath Mitchell, brother Phil (Sabrina), sister Ann (Damon), countless nieces and nephews, and many other relatives. His brother Pat preceded him in death.

Dennis was the oldest of four siblings and then six when his mother remarried. He spent his childhood, moving between California and Washington, mostly Kitsap County and his grandparents` Erlands Point house. Many fond memories were connected to that place. When his mother remarried in the 1960s, his family built a huge A-frame outside of Silverdale and took the name Nicholson. This is where he met Shirley. He graduated from Central Kitsap High School in 1969 where he became aware of his love for music. He then attended Olympic College in Bremerton for two years, continuing his music education. In 1971, he transferred to WWU in Bellingham and earned a degree in music education in 1973. He became a public school teacher like both of his parents and his soon to be wife Shirley.

Dennis taught music for 30+ years, starting in the Edmonds School District. Most of his career was spent in North Kitsap, particularly Wolfle Elementary. He retired in 2007, but he never quit playing or teaching. He played bass and trombone in several bands (Never Been to Utah and Commander Mojo and the Horns of Discontent) and musical groups. He played in symphonies and pit orchestras. He loved playing Tuba Christmas with his brother Mick. He would always help any young musician (younger siblings became neighbors, nieces and nephews, and, of course, his own two sons) with advice, an instrument, or a lesson. He and various musician friends were "the band" at the Lake Stickney Boat Parade every Fourth of July. He continued his love of making music with kids, volunteering and subbing at Madrona K8 in Edmonds up until the time of his death.

Dennis`s other great love was for the outdoors. He would rather have been out than in. He loved to garden and spent most of his summer hours among his vegetables, fruits, and berries. He loved to fish whether it was his little Lake Stickney or a trip to the Kenai River in Alaska. He went crabbing as often as he could in Puget Sound, summer or winter. He liked to gather oysters and clams. Dennis loved camping, backpacking, and hiking with his family. Favorite backpacking spots were the Olympic Mountains, and Kalaloch on the Pacific Ocean was the favorite camping choice. Since both Dennis and Shirley were teachers and fairly free in the summers, the family of four spent a lot of time living on their sailboat, Purple Haze. The favorite destination was the San Juan Islands and the Canadian San Juans, but they explored everywhere they could get to.

Dennis liked working with his hands, building things and fixing things. He maintained his own vehicles but not only the easy oil changes. He learned how to rebuild engines. He cut his own firewood. He bought a welder and taught himself how to weld. He roofed and painted his own house and built a dock, garage, and a woodshed. He worked with his two sons, sharing all he knew until they became more expert than he was. One became a landscaper and the other a metal designer/fabricator.

It should be obvious that his biggest love was his family, who will deeply miss him. He grew up on the water and loved the water, whether it was his own little Lake Stickney where he lived for 44 years or the Salish Sea or the Pacific Ocean. Whenever a family member stands on the edge of a shore, they will think of him and all he did and was to so many. So many have recalled his kindness and patience in their memories shared of him. Many stated that he may have been "one life lived, but many lives touched".