Jack Nichols, Hermit or Man of Mystery ?
From 1958 to 2008 very, very few people were invited to enter the studio at 395A Sackville. Jack came and went, neighbours arrived and moved away, time passed.
Did he have family? Were there any friends. Well, all of these questions were answered at a small memorial service held a the Nercopolis Chapel in Toronto on November 21, 2009.
A gathering of friends, professional contacts, and art lovers, came to pay their respects to Jack. The chapel was standing room only, on that lovely warm November day as the lawyer, chosen by Jack to at as his executor and trustee of his estate stepped forward to speak.
Paul Dineen explained how he had met and gradually come to know this distant neighbour. Other locals came forward to share moments of their contact with him. Several of his school chums for OCAD spoke. But, best of all, two old girlfriends , one in a wheel chair, took the podium to regal us with cheeky stories of dancing and kissing with Jack. Apparently he was quite a ladies man.
It was however a bigger surprise when a tall man, in his mid forties made his way forward and introduced himself as Mary McLean’s nephew. He explained how it had come as a great shock to his family when on her death bed his Aunt Mary had asked to see Jack Nichols….
Tags: Cabbagetown historical Home, Famous Canadian Artist, Historical Home, Historical renovation, Jack Nichols, Renovation
