John Franklin Nicely, of Havertown, Pennsylvania, died at his home on December 18, 2022, at age 68. 

John was born in Rockford, Illinois on April 3, 1954 to Ann Abbe Nicely and Paul Lyman Nicely.  In his youth, he and his family lived in Lindenwood, Illinois; Birmingham, Michigan; Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; Akron, Ohio; and Delaware, Ohio.  In 1970-71, while father Paul was on sabbatical, he spent his last year of high school in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, which contributed to his decision later to plant roots in the Philadelphia area, where he lived for the past 45 years. 

John received an undergraduate degree from his hometown college, Ohio Wesleyan University, in 1977.  During those college years, John was the lead vocalist for several rock n’ roll bands – a role he cherished the rest of his life.  Music truly filled him with joy, and many of his friends and family still think of John as a rock n’ roll front man.  He continued to enjoy performing with his brothers, former band mates, and other friends over the last several years at annual fundraisers benefiting Andrews House, a community center his parents helped found in Delaware.  

While music remained an important passion for John, he devoted his career to caring for his community.  He received a master’s degree in social work from Temple University, after which he spent 40 years in various leadership positions for Residential Service Systems at Resources for Human Development Corporation serving the Intellectually Developmentally Disabled community. 

John and his wife Laurie raised three children, two of whom they adopted through the foster care system.  Their care for children reflected John and Laurie’s endless capacity to love and their commitment to a diverse and peaceful society.  He and his family loved and cared for many pets too – multiple reptiles and their appropriately named dog Jagger.  John also used the handyman skills he acquired during his youth to renovate and maintain the rental properties he and Laurie owned. 

John was preceded in death by his mother (2004) and his father (2008), and by his brother David who died October 2022 just two months prior to John’s passing.  He is survived by his wife Laurie, daughters Charlotte and Christa, son Owen, brothers Tim, Jeff, and Matt, and a close-knit extended family of sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

An event to celebrate John’s life is being planned and will be held at a later time, details for which will be shared separately.  In the meantime, and in lieu of flowers, John’s family encourages donations to be made in his memory to Special Olympics.