1934
Helen
2014
Helen Carol Nicklaus
May 17, 1934 — November 24, 2014
Helen Carol Hamilton Nicklaus, of Amarillo, died on November 24, 2014.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, November 29, 2014, at Polk Street United Methodist Church. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 South Georgia. The family will receive visitors at the funeral home on Friday, November 28, 2014, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Carol was born in Amarillo on May 17, 1934, to Garland B. “Ham” Hamilton and Irene Farwell Hamilton. She was a descendent of Charles and John Farwell, who established the XIT Ranch, having received land in exchange for their assistance in financing the Texas State Capitol building.
Carol is predeceased by her parents and her brother, Neil Hamilton. She is survived by her much-loved husband of 58 years, Dr. Ted M. Nicklaus; her sister-in-law Marianne Hamilton of Albuquerque, NM; her children Susan Nicklaus Iuliano and husband Robert of Sudbury, MA, Mark Nicklaus and wife Dana of Amarillo, and Diana Nicklaus, of Northborough, MA; grandchildren Marketta, Chase, Mason, Ashley, Jeff, Beau, Ben, Blake, Irene, and Edie; and great-granddaughter Piper.
Carol graduated from Amarillo High School, attended Amarillo College for one year, and then graduated cum laude from the University of Texas Liberal Arts/Plan II program. She further studied at Union Theological Seminary, New York, and earned an M.A. in Philosophy and English from the University of Utah.
Carol and husband Ted lived in New York City, Salt Lake City, and San Antonio, before settling in hometown Amarillo, where they met in Junior High School. Carol and Ted chose Amarillo as the place to raise their family and contribute as vibrant members of the community.
Her career as an educator included teaching at Leonia High School, New Jersey, and at San Antonio College. She taught for close to 30 years as a Professor at Amarillo College, teaching Interdisciplinary Humanity, Philosophy, and other courses. She coordinated the Amarillo College Honors Program for ten years.
Carol was instrumental in the development of the Amarillo College Suzuki Program and founded the Creative Mind Lecture Series, serving as its Coordinator for more than twenty years. The Creative Mind program brings lecturers of national prominence to Amarillo to address topics ranging from the world of Leonardo Da Vinci to the heritage of Islam, beginning in1983 with a presentation by Maya Angelou.
Carol was known for her remarkable ability to craft successful grant applications, garnering quite substantial support for projects she directed, including grants from the Texas Committee for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Amarillo Area Foundation.
She worked to advance many worthy organizations, such as the P.E.O. and the Junior League, including her service on the boards of the Texas Committee for the Humanities (appointed by the Governor), the Amarillo Art Center, the Suzuki Program, and the Wesley Community Center. She served in various capacities for humanities projects of the Community College Humanities Association and American Association of Community Colleges, as Coordinator for the Southwestern Regional Humanities Network, and as a panelist for the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Her many rewards include: Miss Electric Cookie 1952, the Amarillo Area Distinguished Service Award, Panhandle Women’s Forum; the Amarillo College Mead Award for Excellence in Teaching; the James F. Veninga Award for Excellence in the Humanities, Texas Council for the Humanities; the Western Regional Teacher of the Year Award, American Association of Community College Trustees; AC Honors Program Teacher of the Year; and induction into the Amarillo High School Sandie Hall of Fame.
Carol loved life and learning. She was a poet, philosopher, marathon runner, family rancher and environmentalist, potter, archeologist, patented inventor, certified naturalist, Native American aficionado, fervent Texas Rangers fan, Shakespeare scholar, musician and music teacher, provocative newspaper editorialist, and comedian. Above all else, she was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, dear friend to many, and an educator in all aspects of her life.
The family would like to thank the many people who have supported Carol, including her caregivers, many friends, and the Life Two-Gether Sunday school class.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Carol Nicklaus Humanities Scholarship or the Honors Support Fund, c/o the Amarillo College Foundation, P.O. Box 447, Amarillo, Texas 79178.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, November 29, 2014, at Polk Street United Methodist Church. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 South Georgia. The family will receive visitors at the funeral home on Friday, November 28, 2014, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Carol was born in Amarillo on May 17, 1934, to Garland B. “Ham” Hamilton and Irene Farwell Hamilton. She was a descendent of Charles and John Farwell, who established the XIT Ranch, having received land in exchange for their assistance in financing the Texas State Capitol building.
Carol is predeceased by her parents and her brother, Neil Hamilton. She is survived by her much-loved husband of 58 years, Dr. Ted M. Nicklaus; her sister-in-law Marianne Hamilton of Albuquerque, NM; her children Susan Nicklaus Iuliano and husband Robert of Sudbury, MA, Mark Nicklaus and wife Dana of Amarillo, and Diana Nicklaus, of Northborough, MA; grandchildren Marketta, Chase, Mason, Ashley, Jeff, Beau, Ben, Blake, Irene, and Edie; and great-granddaughter Piper.
Carol graduated from Amarillo High School, attended Amarillo College for one year, and then graduated cum laude from the University of Texas Liberal Arts/Plan II program. She further studied at Union Theological Seminary, New York, and earned an M.A. in Philosophy and English from the University of Utah.
Carol and husband Ted lived in New York City, Salt Lake City, and San Antonio, before settling in hometown Amarillo, where they met in Junior High School. Carol and Ted chose Amarillo as the place to raise their family and contribute as vibrant members of the community.
Her career as an educator included teaching at Leonia High School, New Jersey, and at San Antonio College. She taught for close to 30 years as a Professor at Amarillo College, teaching Interdisciplinary Humanity, Philosophy, and other courses. She coordinated the Amarillo College Honors Program for ten years.
Carol was instrumental in the development of the Amarillo College Suzuki Program and founded the Creative Mind Lecture Series, serving as its Coordinator for more than twenty years. The Creative Mind program brings lecturers of national prominence to Amarillo to address topics ranging from the world of Leonardo Da Vinci to the heritage of Islam, beginning in1983 with a presentation by Maya Angelou.
Carol was known for her remarkable ability to craft successful grant applications, garnering quite substantial support for projects she directed, including grants from the Texas Committee for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Amarillo Area Foundation.
She worked to advance many worthy organizations, such as the P.E.O. and the Junior League, including her service on the boards of the Texas Committee for the Humanities (appointed by the Governor), the Amarillo Art Center, the Suzuki Program, and the Wesley Community Center. She served in various capacities for humanities projects of the Community College Humanities Association and American Association of Community Colleges, as Coordinator for the Southwestern Regional Humanities Network, and as a panelist for the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Her many rewards include: Miss Electric Cookie 1952, the Amarillo Area Distinguished Service Award, Panhandle Women’s Forum; the Amarillo College Mead Award for Excellence in Teaching; the James F. Veninga Award for Excellence in the Humanities, Texas Council for the Humanities; the Western Regional Teacher of the Year Award, American Association of Community College Trustees; AC Honors Program Teacher of the Year; and induction into the Amarillo High School Sandie Hall of Fame.
Carol loved life and learning. She was a poet, philosopher, marathon runner, family rancher and environmentalist, potter, archeologist, patented inventor, certified naturalist, Native American aficionado, fervent Texas Rangers fan, Shakespeare scholar, musician and music teacher, provocative newspaper editorialist, and comedian. Above all else, she was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, dear friend to many, and an educator in all aspects of her life.
The family would like to thank the many people who have supported Carol, including her caregivers, many friends, and the Life Two-Gether Sunday school class.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Carol Nicklaus Humanities Scholarship or the Honors Support Fund, c/o the Amarillo College Foundation, P.O. Box 447, Amarillo, Texas 79178.
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