ROBERTSHAW, NICK ROBERTSHAW "BIG NICK"

    On October 29, 2007, our dearest friend, husband and father Big Nick Robertshaw left us all and the world he loved so much. Terry, his adored wife of 30 short years, and Thomas, beloved son and cohort, cherish his life and their time with him. Together they built a beautiful garden home in the country. He was the ideal husband and father who shared his life fully with his loved ones. I think many of us are included in the group of loved ones. His love and passion for life was so big and buoyant it could carry us all when we were around him. His concertina was the heart of the whirling, foot stomping Morris dancing and his infectious singing made us all want to join in the song.   Not to be content with one style of music he appreciated all and in day glow regalia joined his son in his passion for modern Electronica. He was an amazing wordsmith as well. Not just with his songs either, his words and wit had us at the edge of our seat until we realized too late that he was telling a joke.

    Professionally, Nick made many contributions to diverse fields. He consulted with the US federal government's Department of Housing and Urban Development on how to ensure that telephone and website communications with consumers were effective and swift. He also taught computer programming classes for the Internal Revenue Service and Morgan Stanley Bank. As a computer engineer, Nick built a mainframe computer that continues "to fly" with his name inside. He helped create the machinery that allows banks to sort US currency and remove bills that are too worn to continue in circulation. In the last few years of his life, he created a web-based scoring service for a short test, called 'Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status,' widely used by pediatricians and other health care providers to detect children who have developmental and behavioral problems. Nick is also the co-author and graphic designer of another short measure, PEDS: Developmental Milestones. On the day of his death, the American Academy of Pediatrics paid tribute to his many contributions to the field of developmental-behavioral pediatrics. His many colleagues, co-workers, friends, and family mourn his loss and admire his wisdom, vision, kindness, humor, perspective, and his lovely spirit.

    Although here we can only scratch the surface of Nick, it is important that you understand one last thing. With an extraordinary passion for life he sought to understand and appreciate the intricacies of the world around him. He loved nature so much and was horrified by the history, politics, and reality of climate change. In lieu of flowers, please honor his life by donating money to the World Wildlife Fund's climate change program ( www.wwfus.org/globalwarming ). That being said, Nick wouldn't want to leave on such a morose note. Please join his friends and family at Cafe) 611 (N. Market St., Frederick) at 6 pm on Thursday November 8 for an evening of music and dancing in remembrance of our friend.

"The terrible thing about dying is that you don't get to see how it all ends up." - Big Nick