Nick Noland, as an adult, was a distant awareness for me as our paths of life had diverged by the time he went away to college.  So, the Nick Noland alive in my memory is the boy of of 7-8 years old and  the next 10 years or so.   Nick came into the life of our family and plugged himself in as though he was us, which he was.  Our son, also Nick, and Nick were only 8 days apart in age and thus they became like twin brothers in some aspects - from the ability to fully lose themselves in some game of being professional wrestlers to intense rivalry in some competitive situation, to constantly challenging each other to be better versions of themselves.  Jeff and I saw, in our Nicks, the method by which we could do many of the things that we, as simply older boys at heart ourselves, wanted to be involved in.  Hiking, camping, seeing a movie in a theater starting at midnight, more hiking and camping, indoor rock climbing, more hiking and camping, going to a road race in Atlanta, more hiking and camping, starting a church activity called Real Men's Camping where we would gather as many as eighty fathers-and-children and mothers-and-children several times for a big group overnight campout at Croft State Park, more hiking and camping, getting the Nicks into Cub Scouts, more hiking and camping, coaching some AYSO soccer along the way where both Nicks found that soccer was not to be their professional future, more hiking and camping, realizing the Boy Scout Troop we wanted our boys to be involved in would require us to start it up ourselves and doing it, more hiking and camping, living out the Scout life with our Nicks into their middle teen years with plenty of hiking and camping.  Training, planning, preparing for, and participating in an 11-day high-altitude backpacking expedition in 2000, at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.  It was at Philmont that I realized our Nicks had become men - rugged, rough if needed, responsible, reliable, and ready.  My heart pumps hard as I recall now looking into their faces on those trails above 10,000 feet and seeing them for what they really were and would become.   Then, soon after Philmont, swelling up just a bit with pride when they each earned and received the rank of Eagle Scout, ... and by then ... the hiking and camping had begun to subside.   High School found both Nicks running Cross Country on their separate teams, yet at least once competing against each other.   By then we would bring us all together for pizza or burgers or something now and then after church on Sunday night or at other times.  Nick and Nick would compare notes on stuff they did not share with their parents, and we were okay with that.  Any hiking or camping in those later teen years if it happened has moved into cloudier memory.  I have hundreds of other specific memories with Jeff and Nick, and with Susan and Caroline.  Many of those memories are hilarious.  Many of them mundane.  Many of them life-changing for all involved.  Lynne and I along with our family, were, and are, blessed with our friendship with the Noland family and Nick was no small part of that blessing.  Somehow to imagine that such a blessing could now be stated in mere words seems nearly impossible.  I can feel it, but don't really know how to say it.  Our families were intertwined willingly for a while.  For us, that intertwining was for the better.  As families, we all experienced it is as fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, sisters, and brothers.  But, for me specifically as a father and friend, my eyes swell with unholdable tears as I think of my gratitude that this life let me make a significant part of my own father-and-son journey alongside and locked arm-to-arm and heart-to-heart with Jeff and Nick Noland.  Nick Noland, my son and my brother, I loved you then and I love you now.  Peace, peace, peace ... my young friend.  Tommy

Stay Gold

… and now baby makes 4! — with Nick and Maggie

Susan and Jeff

we love you all and are truly sorry, but we are praying for you and family

I didn’t have Mr. Noland as a teacher but I was in his classroom a lot for mountain biking and guitar lessons. He was kind and a goofball, I remember on the mountain bike camping trip, my bike slipped sideways but I landed on my feet somehow and Mr. Noland saw it and he gave me a nickname, spider monkey. His memory lives on through the many many people he connected with.  Sending love to his family and friends❤️

Drum Circle :) — with Nick Noland

Maggie, Jeff, Susan, and Caroline, I am so sorry for your families loss.  Nick was a great friend and someone that many people looked up to.  We go back to being just little boys building forts in the yard by the creek, and growing up earning our Eagle Scout together, to hiking the AT together, to graduating together, and the list goes on.  Over the years, I got to spend a lot of time with Nick and one thing held true, Nick wanted to help folks and always had a smile doing it.  Anyone he came in contact with would remember him and his kindness.  All the adventures  and all of the fun we had together as kids, is something I will remember forever.   

Nick Noland was a wonderful teacher, person and guitarist. I remember him coaching the cross country team at one point, and he always pushed me to be the best version of myself. I’ll never forget the impact he had on our class. My deepest and sincerest condolences to his two sons, family, and friends.

Mr. Noland created a community of all ages that created opportunities for everyone. I have experiences I wouldn’t have without his thoughtful and kind soul. My heart goes out to his kiddos and family. 

Summertime fun

Nick was a wonderfully kind and caring presence at MSMS, and an important part of a fantastic staff of educators. I pray for peace for Maggie, his boys, and his family. 

In my professional library I have a favorite book, authored by a memorable group of MSMS students, and facilitated by Nick. It is a book about Manitou businesses, but to me it is a happy historical reminder of Nick’s heart for those children.  Most will hope Nick rests in peace…those of us who knew him for even the shortest of time will hope he finds adventure and joy.  He certainly often gave me joy. 

We loved Nick and have such fond memories of him as a teenager playing in the praise band at church. We are praying constantly for the boys and the family that God will give consolation and peace even if understanding escapes us. Such is the nature of faith and such is the path to comfort in times of great uncertainty and despair. We love all of you.