Nicholas Stchur

  December 16, 1942 – February 8, 2021

Lieutenant Nicholas Stchur

Nicholas Stchur fell asleep in the Lord on February 8, 2021 following a hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer. A cancer diagnosis might rightly be considered by many to be a tragic event, and as Nick was loved by just about everyone who knew him, it would be understandable to call his illness sad or tragic. But the thing about Nick is that he was almost never sad, and where others saw tragedy, he generally saw mere inconvenience.

When his children were young and had been upset by some childhood disappointment that seemed to them like the end of the world, he would frequently respond by telling them, “This is just inconvenient.” Although annoyed by it at the time, they have since come to realize that he was right (as he was about pretty much everything). Nearly thirty years later, he would refer to cancer as “inconvenient” as well. And while this may seem like a gross understatement, for him it really was the truth. Between the love he shared with his family, the strength he drew from his faith, and the joy of a life well lived, it really kind of made sense that cancer didn’t rank very highly on the priority list.

Nicholas and Sallie

Nick was born on December 16, 1942 in Hudson, PA where he spent the first 22 years of his life. He earned bachelor’s degrees from Wilkes University and the University of Utah and served as an officer in the United States Air Force from 1968 -1973. He married Sallie Pasonick on February 13, 1965 and they raised two children, Kira and Stephen.

Although he claimed that he found his career path largely by accident, Nick had an interesting and varied career including work as a meteorologist, teacher, and entrepreneur. One of his proudest accomplishments was opening Shrewsbury Computer Center, where he built and sold computer systems for more than ten years.

People who knew Nick probably remember him best for his sense of humor, and people who didn’t know him usually became acquainted with it immediately upon meeting him. A self-proclaimed “professional agitator,” Nick was known for joking with waitstaff, cashiers, and the entire nursing team at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. He never did receive the lobster and filet he ordered every week with his chemotherapy, but that didn’t stop him from trying.

He was also known for his unique fashion sense. Most of his wardrobe was purchased at Sears and Goodwill, and he once suggested that he planned to wear a Cleveland Browns hat and hoodie to his daughter’s wedding. He liked to describe himself as “dashing” and insisted that as such, he made any outfit look good. Still, his family did eventually manage to talk him out of the Browns hat.

Nick loved fishing, gardening, woodworking, and giving stock tips to friends and family. He believed in savoring the small pleasures in life, seeing the good in everyone, and helping others whenever he could.

In the end, cancer did prove to be highly inconvenient, but he was right about the fact that it wasn’t really important. Nick lived a joyful life and appreciated every moment of it. He loved his family more than anything, and he often said that he was blessed and luckier than any man had a right to be. Cancer never stood a chance at changing that.

Nick was preceded in death by his parents, Nicholas Stchur, Sr. and Anna Stchur. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sallie Stchur; daughter Kira Villarreal and her husband Eddie; son Stephen Stchur and his wife Emily; grandchildren Anna, Jonah, and Julian Stchur; sister Faith Kuharsky and her husband V. Rev. Sergius Kuharsky; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

If you are so moved, his family asks that you consider making a donation to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in his memory.