In Memorium Tom Nicholson

Written by Administrator Thursday, 04 February 2010 12:28

Our friend and longtime League member, Tommy Nicholson, 61, has passed away after a valiant struggle with congenital heart disease. Tommy always knew his family health history was a Sword of Damacles hanging over his daily life. He lost several of his siblings for the same reason and he appeared somewhat resigned to his fate. In recent years, his activities were limited and in recent months he suffered several near fatal episodes of heart failure.

A native New Yorker, he came to Los Angeles in 1978 and became involved with the Gay Softball League participating with his new found friend Bill Dehn in the Gay World Series III Championship. 

In the early '80s he became a member of the LAPL and played from the old Eagle bar when it was located on Santa Monica Boulevard near Fairfax. He also worked for the Gold Coast for ten years according to longtime owner Bob Hastings.

After a hiatus of some years, he returned to active play at Penthouse Billiards becoming a member of the first team with Shauna Madrigal. They eventually won the LAPL team Championship in Fall 2008.

In  2006, The Board of Governors awarded Tommy its "Special Recognition Award" in appreciation of his continuing help with the team scheduling each season. Along with Bill Dehn, he managed to prepare the tedious pairings that required an expertise that few members possessed.