Walter James Nicholas

Walter James Nicholas (known as "Nick" to friends), 75, of Palm Springs, California, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, October 7, 2020 at Desert Springs Hospital due to an aortic aneurysm. He is survived by his wife, Martha Nicholas and children, Katherine Nicholas and James Nicholas, and grandchild, Heath Nicholas-Slape.

Walter was born January 25, 1945 in Inglewood, California. He lived in Santiago, Chile during his childhood where he attended Catholic boarding school and became fluent in Spanish. It is here that his love for flamenco music, guitar, and Hispanic culture blossomed. At 12 years old he returned to California with his Mother, brother, and sister where he lived for the rest of his life.

He attended California Polytechnic University, Pomona, wherein he graduated with a degree in Physics. Walter worked as a consultant in the engineering field and had experience working as a design engineer in the Apollo program. In his 30s, Walter decided on a career change and attended law school. He spent time as a social worker during law school, work that he greatly enjoyed and created a lasting impact on his life. Upon passing the bar exam, Walter began practicing law as a criminal defense and workers compensation attorney.

Walter met Martha in Los Angeles. He joked to his kids that he met their mother at the Chiropractic office where she worked during an appointment, wearing nothing but a robe and that he accidentally flashed her. He had a fantastic and wicked sense of humor. They began dating, and married in 1980 in an intimate family wedding in Los Angeles, California. Walter had an emphatic love of hunting and fishing in Baja, Mexico. Martha joined him on his adventures, and they honeymooned in Cancun, Mexico.

He spent his years practicing law, raising his children, and planning and coordinating countless hunting trips, deep sea fishing trips, and camping trips with his friends and family. He had the ability to get people outside of their comfort zone and introduced many friends and both of his children to hunting, fishing and the great outdoors. When he had an idea for a trip, he would tirelessly research and plan out each minute detail making him prepared for anything.
Walter had a love for reading, natural hot springs, and his dogs. He owned German Shorthair Pointers over the past 25 years. Each one a loyal companion, hunting, and hiking buddy. He was incredibly proud of his family, and often boasted about his children who followed in his footsteps with their adventurous spirit. His tireless love and devotion to his family was evident in his final moments. Martha was with him during his passing, and he was able to say a final goodbye. He was admired and loved deeply by his family and he will be greatly missed.

Walter's family held a private funeral service in Palm Springs, Ca on Tuesday, October 13. Donations in his name can be made to the California German Shorthair Pointer Rescue, https://www.gsp-rescue.org/ or to a local animal shelter.