John Lockrey Nicodemus - Obituary

ohn Lockrey Nicodemus, 74, of Edgewater, MD, and formerly of Crofton, MD, died peacefully surrounded by his family on April 16, 2023, of natural causes after several years of declining health. He was born the youngest of three children in September 1948, in New London, CT to Winifred Marguerite and Gordon Kirkland Nicodemus, Jr. (Capt. USN-Ret). His father’s naval career afforded John the opportunity to grow up all over the world. He had many fond memories of childhood adventures in such faraway places as Hong Kong and Naples, Italy. Following in his father’s footsteps to pursue a career in the military, John was extraordinarily proud to have graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1973. Upon graduation, he married his wife of nearly 50 years, Christine, on June 16, 1973, at a ceremony in Venice, FL. After proudly serving his country for 5 years stationed in Fort Sill, OK, John retired from the Army in 1978 having obtained the rank of Captain. He spent the next several years working for Proctor & Gamble, which required the entire family to move more often than when he was in the military to include Albany, GA, Memphis, TN, and Cincinnati, OH. Tiring from the wanderlust of his earlier years, John decided to move back to the Nicodemus family’s ancestral roots in the Baltimore-Washington Metro area. He settled in Crofton, MD, which is where he and Chris would make their home and raise their family for the next 30 years. He took great pride in his children. In true John fashion, he got involved in their lives. Swimming was an excellent example. Instead of just showing up to root for his kids, he learned to officiate the meets and ultimately became a USA Swimming certified referee. He never missed seeing his kids swim because he was running their swim meets and saw every race, not just those of his children. And because he was always fair and believed that the rules should apply to everyone equally regardless of who they were, he even disqualified his own daughter on one or two occasions. He helped his brother found Kamar Services, which was a company dedicated to facilitating school fundraising activities. But John’s passion had always been helping people, and he discovered his true calling at Executive Sounding Board Associates in the field of Turnaround Management. He found great fulfillment in helping to transform organizations, often smaller family-owned enterprises in crisis or on the brink of failure, into thriving and profitable ventures. He devoted nearly 15 years of his life to rescuing struggling companies. John was forced into early retirement as a result of kidney failure and was the grateful recipient of a kidney transplant in 2011. But his ill health did not lessen his enthusiasm for helping folks. He dedicated his golden years to job coaching and mentorship of people of all ages and backgrounds. He even wrote a book called So Do You Want a Job or What - "Dirty Secrets of Resume Writing and Job Hunting" as a means of sharing a lifetime’s worth of experience on both sides of the job market. John was very active in many volunteer organizations dedicated to leadership development and mentorship including the West Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce and Toastmasters International. Toastmasters recognized his contributions over the years through various awards including Advance Leadership Bronze in 2012, Advanced Communicator Gold in 2014, Distinguished Toast Master in 2017, and Advanced Leader Silver in 2017. John was also an active member of West Point Society of Annapolis (WPSOA) and served on their Board of Directors. He ran their High School Leadership Program for 14 years working to recognize and promote student leaders at 11 local high schools. Always the loudest guy in the room, will miss his booming voice, which was a steadying source of comfort and joy to his family and friends. It was quite an appropriate trait for such a masterful storyteller. He was keen to recount his antics and pranks from his time at West Point to anyone who would listen. But he was an equally good listener and was always ready with a sympathetic ear and sage advice for anyone who asked it of him. He had a real mischievous streak and delighted in wearing “Go Army Beat Navy” gear in the hometown of the Naval Academy. He also had a knack for poker, especially when the stakes were low, and enjoyed winning all of his neighbors’ pennies, nickels, dimes, & quarters. He was a kind, caring, patient, loyal, funny, gentle soul who will be greatly missed by all of those fortunate enough to have known him. A beloved father and dutiful husband, John is survived by his wife, Christine Hilda Nicodemus, daughter Dana Nicodemus Hudson (Christopher Trainum), son Patrick Kirkland Nicodemus (Laura Biess), grandson Theodore Lockrey Nicodemus, sister Sibyl Hunt Nicodemus of the Netherlands, two nieces, and numerous cousins. John’s brother, Gordon Kirkland Nicodemus, III, of Arlington, VA died just two weeks after John. They are both preceded in death by their parents. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2023, from 3-6PM at The Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille in Edgewater, MD (3213 Solomons Island Rd., Ste. A, Edgewater, MD 21037). John’s cremated remains will be inurned at the West Point Cemetery in either the Fall of 2023 or Spring of 2024. The family will share this information as soon as it becomes available. Memorial contributions can be made to Donate Life Maryland (www.donatelifemaryland.org) at https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=SW6D4MUZ4LZZ8, Donate Life America at 5516 Falmouth St., Ste. 302, Richmond, VA 23230 / www.DonateLife.net, and/or the American Kidney Fund at www.kidneyfund.org. Condolences can be made by visiting the Memories link on this page.