Obituary of William "Jef" Nichols

Rochester – Springwater – William “Jef” Nichols, 80, passed away Tuesday evening April 18, 2023 at St. Ann’s Home in Rochester. Jef was born May 21, 1942 in Rochester the son of Sidney and Ruth (Carmichael) Nichols. He grew up in Rochester and also in California for a short time before becoming homesick and moving back to Rochester. Returning from California he resided in the Greece area of Rochester for a while and in 1972 he moved to Geneseo. In 1989 he moved to Springwater and befriended Don Walker. He would eventually, after retiring from Kodak, fulfill a lifelong dream when he began to work on Don Walker’s farm. As a child all he wanted to do was farm and he was now able to do it. In 2004 he became a snowbird and wintered in Arizona while summering in Springwater still working on the farm. Prior to his post retirement work of farming, Jef worked at Kodak for many years doing different jobs while there. Earlier in life he also worked at Burroughs Corp., Gleason Mfg., he was a meat cutter for a time and he owned his own plumbing and electrician company. He held an administrative job at MCC for a while but just couldn’t be behind a desk. He was very hands on and was continually out on the job instead of his desk, so he decided that was not going to work! Jef’s hobbies were many. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, he was an Eagle Scout , he loved to play cards, especially poker and euchre and participated in many tractor pulls over the years. He was very smart and was always tinkering with anything mechanical and also enjoyed carpentry. Jef was happy with his life and being a friend of Bill for over 48 years; remaining faithful to the group and helping countless others along the way. Jef was pre-deceased by his parents, Sidney and Ruth Nichols; and his brother Mike Nichols. He is survived by his daughter, Adrianne Mann (Joe Denaro) of Webster and his son Jeff (Heather) Nichols of Marion; his grandchildren, Joshua (Jill) Mann, Nicholas Mann (Cheyenne Canton) and Chloe, Josiah and Joshua Nichols; his great grandchild, Lincoln; his first wife and friend, Barbara Sullivan; and many friends at the Walker Farm and Friends of Bill in AA. Jef’s family and friends may call Saturday April 22, 2023 from 1-3pm at St. George-Forsythe Funeral Home, 109 West Naples St., Wayland. His funeral service will be at 3pm at the funeral home. Committal prayers and interment will take place at Ashley Cemetery at the convenience of his family.