In Loving Memory of Nicholas Ralph Darling

April 13th, 1991 - March 21st, 2025

Nicholas Ralph Darling passed away suddenly on March 21st, 2025, only a few weeks shy of being able to celebrate his 34th birthday, after a hard-fought battle with Huntington’s disease (HD). His departure leaves an unfathomable void in our hearts, but our memories with him will remain etched into our souls.

Saturday, April 13th, 1991 - Nicholas R. Darling was a “rainbow baby” born on a beautiful spring day as the weather in New York warmed up just enough to begin thawing out following an ice storm. A storm so severe that it would be known in history books as the 1991 Rochester Ice Storm that left an entire community without power for weeks. Ever since then, Nick always had this natural ability to bring his own sunshine into anybody else’s cloudy day.

In every facet of his life, Nick sought out new adventures and challenges, exemplified uncharted intelligence, pursued excellence, masterminded the way all things function (even if that meant taking apart and putting back together anything he got his hands on), and immersed himself into other worlds through books and games.

With heavy hearts, we bid farewell to an extraordinary human being whose presence filled our lives with joy, unconditional love, steadfast support, contagious laughter, and unwavering generosity. The kindness and courage he so selflessly embodied touched the lives of many. May his soul find eternal peace, and may we find solace in the time we shared with him.

As we mourn the loss of a darling son, grandson, brother, cousin, and friend, let us honor Nick’s memory by embracing the values he held dear and continue raising awareness for HD. Some words that briefly describe HD include inherited, incurable, untreatable, progressive, unabated, relentless, a neurodegenerative disease that targets a person’s mind, body, and soul in the most ruthless ways imaginable. Emmy award winning actress, Tamara Braun, speaks from personal experience when she puts it this way, “Huntington’s disease is described as having ALS, Parkinsons, and Alzheimer's diseases simultaneously” #LetsTalkAboutHD.

Nick is survived by his parents, Tana (Alan) Coyne and Ralph E. Darling; grandfather, Kyle D. Mease; sister, Danielle Darling; much-loved cousins, Pamela Workman, Susan Montgomery, Mateo Villa, Kyle P. Mease, and Lindsey Mease; very special cousin, Blake Mucha, to whom Nick shared a truly cherished bond; and more special cousins, Jessica Workman; CJ (Jenna) Workman; Alicia Schlegel; Miranda Montgomery; and Stephanie Baker.

Nick was predeceased by his grandmother, Ruth Mease; aunt, Carol Villa; and uncle, Michael Mease.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that you please consider a gift in Nick’s memory to the Hereditary Disease Foundation, an organization dedicated to curing Huntington’s disease (HD), at https://www.hdfoundation.org/donate-today.

If you’re unable to donate at this time, the simple act of getting the word out in your community and raising awareness for HD is priceless.