Jeremy Duncan Nicholson
April 29, 1948 - March 5, 2024
BARON OF BALVENIE
CHIEFTAIN IN CLAN MACNICOL
CHAIRMAN, THE HIGHLAND CLAN MACNEACAIL FEDERATION
It is with deep sadness that the family of Jeremy Duncan Nicholson, Baron of Balvenie, announces his untimely passing on 5 March 2024 in Milan, Italy two months shy of his 76th birthday.
Jeremy was born in the shadow of the Rijksmusem Amsterdam in the building that now houses the U.S. Consulate General, the middle of three brothers.
As a young boy and much to his mother's horror, Jeremy kept a number of snakes and reptiles as pets, and when he returned the United States to attend college, he donated his collection to the Brussels Zoo. As a young man, he enjoyed camping and canoeing with his older brother Nicky in Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp in search of alligators and snakes and other native wildlife.
Jeremy was a graduate of Haverford College and subsequently took a Masters Degree in Library Science from Temple University. It was while he was in Philadelphia on the evening of 5 December 1975, the eve of the Feast Day of St. Nicholas, that Jeremy met Conte Andrea di Montegnacco, his spouse, life companion, and best friend of 44 years. Andrea's unexpected passing in March 2020 was a source of great grief to Jeremy.
Jeremy moved to Sydney, Australia, in the summer of 1982 to be with Andrea who preceded him there by two years. The two subsequently resided in Melbourne, Australia, and Udine, Italy, before winding up living together in suburban Atlanta, Georgia, for 22 years.
Jeremy was always fascinated by airplanes and flying and took flying lessons at one point. He and Andrea were inveterate world travelers, opting often to circle the globe rather than choosing a conventional out-and-back round trip. Jeremy was well-known and well-regarded by the First Class cabin crews of Delta Airlines. He kept a log of every flight he made, detailing the types of aircraft, plane tail numbers, crew members, and seat positions.
Upon returning to the States in 1998, Jeremy worked tirelessly to untangle the bureaucratic red tape and help Andrea obtain his Green Card and, ultimately, his American citizenship. With Andrea, Jeremy owned and operated a small business providing technical writing and consulting to various businesses and enterprises. The two were officially united in marriage in 2013 shortly after California became the first state in the nation to pass a same sex marriage law.
Jeremy was recognized in Scotland as Baron of Balvenie upon the passing of his uncle C.B. Harman Nicholson of Atlanta in 2009. Deeply proud of his Scottish heritage, Jeremy was a Chieftain in Clan MacNicol, Chairman of the Clan MacNicol Federation, President of Clan MacNicol North America, President of the Scorrybreac Fund, a Trustee of Urras Clann MhicNeacail, and Patron and honorary President of the Dufftown Highland Games. Jeremy was also the proprietor of the ancient Castle of Balvenie in Dufftown, Moray (formerly Banffshire) which is under the care of Historic Scotland.
Together, Jeremy and Andrea again tackled the United States immigration and naturalization bureaucracy on behalf of their friend and Senegalese asylum seeker, Moise Ndoye. They did not rest their efforts until Moise was first granted asylum in 2012, a Green Card in 2014, and, finally, his U.S. Citizenship in 2018. Jeremy and Moise were subsequently married in a private ceremony in November 2021.
Well- and widely-read, Jeremy was a great conversationalist with a tremendous font of knowledge of history and literature. He was a truly kind person who loved nothing better than a quiet evening of dining and convivial conversation with friends and family that would often carry late into the night, way past everyone's bedtime.
Jeremy was predeceased his parents H. Burke Nicholson, Jr. and Juliet D. Nicholson; his first spouse Andrea di Montegnacco; his Aunts Carolyn Worley (Owen) and Lucia Lines (Ernest); his Uncles C.B. Harman Nicholson and John Nicholson (Charlotte); and his older brother H.B. 'Nicky' Nicholson, III.
Jeremy is survived by Moise Ndoye, and by his beloved brother Graham Seaford Nicholson, Sr. of Canton, Georgia with his wife Rebecca Gay Nicholson and their children, Graham Seaford Nicholson, Jr. (Meagan) and Grace Ellen Nicholson, his aunt Jane Johnson, and by many loving cousins, their spouses, and nieces and nephews.
The family will be receiving visitors at Northside Chapel, 12050 Crabapple Road in Roswell, GA 30075, on Tuesday evening, 19 March 2024, from 6:00 to 8:30 PM.
The Celebration of Life for Jeremy will be Wednesday morning, 20 March 2024, at 11:00 AM, at Birmingham United Methodist Church, located at 15770 Birmingham Hwy, Milton, GA 30004. A light meal will be offered in the fellowship hall following the ceremony.
In lieu of flowers, Jeremy's family would appreciate that donations be made in his memory to the American Friends Service Committee, 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102.
Jeremy will be sorely missed by his many friends and his loving family.
JOHN MACNEACAIL OF MACNICOL AND SCORRYBREAC
BALLINA, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA
We were shocked to hear of the passing of one of our Clan stalwarts, Jeremy Nicholson of Balvenie, who passed away while on holiday in Milan, Italy on 5th March. Although circumstances prevented us from being present at his memorial service in Atlanta, Jenni and I were able to watch the service via livestream, and Cliff Wolf, read the following message from Jenni and I.
Jeremy, Baron of Balvenie, Chieftain in Clan MacNicol, President of Clan MacNicol North America, Trustee of Urras Clann MhicNeacail, but most of all, our friend.
On your recent visit to Ballina late last year, we - being of similar age - discussed what our old age might be and you told us that you were looking forward to at least another ten years or so.
It was therefore a terrible shock to hear that you would not be enjoying that time with us. It does, however, make us reflect on a relationship of about 40 years - going back to when the Nicholsons of Atlanta joined forces with the Nicolsons of Scorrybreac to restore the ancient Clan of MacNeacail.
Your father, Burke, and your Uncles, Harman and John, helped my father navigate the Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh while being instrumental in setting up our clan society in North America and the purchase of Scorrybreac, our Clan land on the Isle of Skye. With their passing, the mantle fell to your shoulders and their legacy could not have been in better hands.
They, like everyone who knew you, would have admired the diligent manner in which you have juggled your duties as Baron of Balvenie, your various offices in Clan MacNicol and your role in managing the estates of your father and Uncle Harman.
Circumstances prevent us from being present today but our hearts are with you, Moïse, and all your extended family. Eulogies will be delivered by others but Jenni and I have so enjoyed your company, your advice, your travel stories, your laughter, but most of all, your friendship.
Go peacefully Jeremy, you will be forever remembered for a life of loyalty and dedication to family. You will be deeply missed by us, by your Clan and by your family.
Scorrybreac
CLIFFORD L. WOLF, CHIEFTAIN IN CLAN MACNICOL
CRESTVIEW, FLORIDA, USA
It is with a heavy heart that I inform you all that our President, Jeremy Duncan Nicholson of Balvenie, passed away suddenly on March 5, 2024 while vacationing in Milan, Italy. Our condolences go out to Jeremy’s entire family and his many friends around the world.
Jeremy was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands on April 29, 1948. His primary and high school education took place in Belgium, and after moving to Philadelphia, PA, he attended Haverford College. He completed his Masters Degree in Library Science from Philadelphia’s Temple University. My point is not to repeat Jeremy’s moving obituary, but rather point out his formation, how those early years shaped the man our Clan MacNicol family so loved and admired. He was truly an international personality.
He and his spouse of 44 years, Andrea di Montegnacco always made everyone feel they were included. They were simple gentlemen and they lived their lives that way. I think they were two of the last people on the planet still using paper maps instead of a GPS app on a cell phone. That’s right – they didn’t have one of those either!
Jeremy had a love of language and culture. His brother Graham conveyed that he mastered at least five languages – English, French, Italian, Dutch and Flemish, and dabbled in German, Greek and several other languages. This mastery of language allowed them to travel around the globe, making new friends along the way. Jeremy had great passion for aircraft, and kept a log of every trip he had ever taken, recording the aircraft type, the seat and other data points. Knowing his love of travel, I can’t imagine how many journals he recorded. His passion for planes extended to military aircraft as well – he could identify them all and kept up through his periodicals.
While aircraft, language and travel piqued Jeremy’s interests, nothing was more important than carrying on the legacy embraced by his father Burke and Uncle Harman – that of the restoration of Clan MacNicol. Their efforts, combined with the work of our recently departed Murray Nicolson of Concord, MA and many others around the world to support the recognition of Iain Nicolson of Ballina, NSW as Chief of Clan MacNicol set the tone for the next 30 years. Jeremy took on the mantle of Chairman of the Clan MacNicol Federation, a story built on the sweat of those previous founders which resulted in four key Clan MacNicol Societies: Scotland, Australia, New Zealand and North America. Jeremy continued the positive relationship the Clan has enjoyed with the Lyon Court, both the previous Lord Lyon King of Arms David Sellar, and the current Lyon, Dr. Joseph Morrow, who is a Nicolson on his mother’s side.
I came into contact with Jeremy about 19 years ago in the course of doing some research for my mother, Cynthia Nicol, to look into the heritage of her father, James W. Nicol of Selkirk, Scotland. I came across the Clan MacNicol Society website and sent an email requesting information. Not long after, Jeremy Nicholson of Atlanta responded, and asked me to meet him at the 2007 Scottish Highland Games in Dunedin, FL. I went and met with Jeremy and had such good time, that within a year I had a kilt and within a few years was asked to join the North American Board of Directors. For the past few years, I’ve been the Vice President working alongside of Jeremy, our President and learning. During his tenure, participation in Highland Games across the country grew, as Jeremy and Andrea went to each location to help train our members on managing a tent for Clan MacNicol. Clan events increased as well, as we held meeting around the country always followed by a festive cèilidh.
His funeral was held at the Birmingham United Methodist Church in Milton, Georgia on March 20, 2024. It was broadcast live and can still be viewed at https:// birminghamumc.org/live/ under Related Videos. Jeremy will always be remembered for his kindness and willingness to help people. He was a friend and mentor to so many, and I will personally miss our encounters. Our condolences go out to Moïse Ndoye, his spouse, and all his friends and relatives. We will miss you Jeremy. May you rest in peace.
Cliff