Preserving Marist’s Tradition of Excellence for Future Generations

Heather and Jimmy Nichols' planned gift reflects the positive impact Marist School has had on their entire family.

"The Marist School community is our family," shared Heather and Jimmy Nichols as they reflected on the impact the school has had on their lives. Having strong ties to Marist, Heather and Jimmy generously decided to make a planned gift to preserve the school's unique traditions for future generations.

Heather Nichols’ relationship with Marist began when her brother, Ricky Chandler ’78, enrolled. Heather graduated from Northside High School in 1970, as Marist was not admitting female students at that time. She later joined the Marist community in fall 1988 as a mathematics teacher, and she served Marist as head varsity football cheerleading coach for 17 years. In 2012, Heather was honored with the Frank P. Hagan Memorial Coach’s Award for inspiring growth and personal excellence among student-athletics through competition, sportsmanship, and teamwork.

The War Eagle spirit was passed on to Heather and Jimmy’s three children—Jim Nichols ’95, Paul Nichols ’99, and Allyson Nichols Miller ’02. As Marist students, Paul ’99 and Jim ’95 played football while Allyson ’02 followed in Heather’s footsteps as a member of the cheerleading squad. The strong Marist connections also extend to the spouses of their children. Jim ’95 married fellow alumna Kristin Marzano Nichols ’02, and Allyson Nichols Miller ’02 married her high school sweetheart Bartley Miller ’02. Additionally, Paul ’99 married Lauran Lightmas Nichols, who served as Marist’s director of alumni engagement for two years. This fall, the Nichols will become Marist grandparents when Allyson and Bartley’s son John joins Marist’s Class of 2029.

When Heather and Jimmy began making their estate plans while Heather was still on the faculty, they acknowledged that Marist was an important investment as the school meant something to every member of their family. They had witnessed firsthand the extraordinary power of a Marist education and the long-lasting interconnectedness of the Marist community. “It was an easy decision for us to make, and every little bit helps,” said Heather, as she expressed the importance of sustaining Marist’s strong tradition of excellence.

In addition to their generous planned gift, the Nichols family supports Marist each year by volunteering, participating in campus events, and contributing philanthropically. They donate to the Annual Fund each year and previously served as Annual Fund volunteers as well. They also understand the importance of contributing to Marist’s endowment, which helps guarantee the future success of the school. In celebration of Heather’s retirement, the Nichols family created a legacy at Marist by establishing The Heather C. Nichols Scholarship Fund. They also make donations to Marist’s endowment in memory of loved ones who share a connection to the school.

We are grateful for the many ways the Nichols family serves Marist and for their thoughtful decision to include Marist in their estate plans. Heather and Jimmy’s generosity is recognized by Marist through membership in the Heritage Circle.