The passing of a Friend
by Keith Roberts
“It is with a great deal of sadness that I inform all members of the Advisory Committee of the loss of one of our own. This morning (Friday August 17, 2007) Jackie Nickel lost her battle with cancer.
I had the honor and privilege of calling Jackie one of my friends for almost 30 years. Although we didn’t always agree on certain issues, her friendship was a constant that I will surely miss.
Always a fighter, Jackie continued her passion and work for the community right up to almost the very end when her illness kept her away from meetings beginning two months ago.
Active in the Rockaway Beach Improvement Association, Back River Neck Peninsula Community Association, Essex-Middle River Civic Council, Essex Revitalization Organization, Essex Day Festival, Ballestone Preservation Society, and many more. A School Teacher. Author of several books on the History of Essex and Middle River. And Editor and columnist for several local newspapers, Jackie will always be remembered for her love of the area where she was born and raised and spent her entire life.
Her fighting spirit is something that we should all honor and try to emulate.”