Jerome Nicolosi, My father
Jerome and Kathleen Nicolosi's wedding July 3,1981
Vanessa and I were two months premature.
Proud Daddy
When we were in the hospital shortly after our birth, the nurses were doing something to me and I was hollering about it - Daddy came in the room and called my name and I was instantly quiet and turned to him. So he says.
Beautiful Mama
Grandmother Wooddall and Grandmother Nicolosi
Daddy with miracle baby Regina.
Mamma and Regina
Daddy loved the ocean. We had a healthy fear of the water, but also a great love of it that he encouraged.
Birthdays were always great celebtrations in our house. Very special days!
Swimming lessons!
Daddy, Vanessa, Regina and I in front of our car.
Riding "Booboo" at the beach.
R.J. and Daddy
Daddy with his mother at the airport.
Jerome, Kathleen, Grandmother Nicolosi, Garnet and Carl Barkley, Regina, Veronique, and Vanessa.
A trip to Washington D.C.
Waterfowl Festival
Daddy and I taking a ride on my kindergarden teacher's bike. We each got a turn, even Mama!
Daddy was the General Manager of the Tidewater Inn for three years.
Since we lived a block from the Tidewater Inn Daddy would walk to and from work and come home for lunch every day! We affectionately called it the green house and had many good times there.
Waiting for the ferry to St. Michaels.
Picture for our missions prayer card. We went to Russia as missionaries in September 1993. We were an "orphanage family" with A.T.I.A.
Daddy's father Ralph Nicolosi had a picture made with a similar hat and pose, so Mama took Daddy's picture on his birthday in Russia as you see it.
Orphanage #7 in Zelenograd, Russia was our home for three years. The children called my parents "Mama" and "Daddy" like we did because they loved them and were loved by them.
This little babushka was a member of the House of Prayer church we attended just outside of Zelenograd (which means 'green city').
We went on "vacation" with our orphans to the Black Sea for three weeks. They are forced to do manual labor harvesting grapes and tomatoes.
We stayed in an abandoned pioneer camp wich was a block from the shores the Black sea. The camp only had electricity for a very few and uncertain hours of the day, so Daddy would read to us or we would play our instruments by candle light.
Red Square in Moscow, Russia. 1995
January 14,1995 R.J. and Kristie Nicolosi's wedding
We came back to America in May of 1996 because Daddy needed brain surgery. The tumor wrapped around his brain stem had grown in the last five years since they first found it.
Surgery was July 5,1996 two days after Mama and Daddy's 15th wedding anniversary. People would ask us why we were smiling and we would tell them we could smile because we had the hope of Jesus Christ.
Easton Memorial Hospital. A big change from Johns Hopkins Hospital.
The joy of the Lord was his strength.
Daddy's 50th birthday was spent in the hospital. He had a shunt put in his head for hydrocephalus (water on the brain). It helped tremendously.
Daddy's first trip home from the hospital was a couple hours long. Dr. Barney Davis and George Gruner brought him home for us.
The right side of Daddy's face was paralized, he had double vision, he lost most of his hearing, he lost most of his taste buds, he had to learn to walk again, and talk. He experienced every complication of surgery short of permanent paralysis and death, and he never complained.
My Daddy always had his Bible with him, open and studying it; and when he could not read any longer he would have us read it to Him, play recordings of the New Testament, or print out all the promises of healing big enough so that he could make out the words.
Jerome and his younger brother Vincent.
A legacy - I leave with you - a legacy - not of power, fame, or wealth o'er trod - but a story of a soul - tried and true - A legacy - of the face of my God. This life is simply a passing breath - for none but God to direct it's end - as so He guides the course of this earth; so Almighty God - to me descend! Come - love - I shan't be gone - I in God - and God in thee. Listen to the angel's song - it dances in the walls of eternity. Father - Thou art in me - and I in Thee - our union - in perfect harmony - shall it be this way for all eternity? Almighty God - Your face I see! I must leave now - my God is calling - I must go now - quickly - The angels are singing! And so - in death is found - a conquering victory. Thus - a legacy - I leave with thee - A legacy - of the face of my God. Veronique Nicolosi 10-7-98
October 6,1998 This was taken the day my Daddy died. We took pictures in front of the car because we gave it away that same day. Daddy was given the ultimate and true healing, and that is not death, but resurrection and life forever with Jesus Christ.
Morning kisses me awake - I am aware - of Love - And Dream's wake - Haunting - from Above. There was a face - From someone's childhood - Dear - somehow - erased - Embrace Him - if I could. There was a Stage - Simulated Reality - He was back of it - a cage - Of Curtains - Immortality. There was a Play - Easter Morning - I came in after Calvary - Before the Angel's greeting. They led me back to Him - He smiled at me - And I ran to Him - We were laughing. He picked me up - so easily! And swung me around - As if I were a little girl - This womanhood - unfound. Then - I awoke - smiling - Banished from that blessed Sheol - Remembering - singing - waiting... For the Resurrection! Veronique Nicolosi 4.29.01
Smile! she is commanded - The mouth obeys - It is a lie - Pain, exudes the eyes. Saviour! is joy forbid - Happiness upset? No, 'tis not a flood - A broken heart at sunset. V.S.N.
The soldiers stand erect - Atop a hill - Remembering the battle won - And the Captain who led them there. V.S.N.
In February 1999 we flew down to Georgia and had a memorial service on a piece of property that my parents always loved.
We placed Daddy's ashes there and each placed a stone - but that is not where my Daddy is. I know he is in the heavenlies with his Lord Whom he loved with all of his heart, strength, and life. And his legacy is the smiling face of Jesus Who has said to him: "Well done, My good and faithful servant."!