Nicky Delton Ravashiere's Obituary
Nicky Delton Ravashiere, 91, of Tucson, AZ, transitioned peacefully from this life on Memorial Day (May 30) 2016, at Casa de la Luz Hospice.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Virginia (Rainey) Ravashiere; his daughter and son-in-law Christina and Ronald Medvescek of Tucson, AZ; his son and daughter-in-law David and Sophia (Padilla) Ravashiere of Chandler, AZ; grandchildren Sarah, Nicholas and Eli Medvescek of Tucson, Boston and Durham, NC; sister Mimi Sokol of Chevy Chase, MD.; several beloved nieces and nephews and their families; and two spoiled Siamese cats, Kai and Chi. He is preceded in death by his brother, Tom Ravashiere, and parents.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1924, the third child of John and Christina (Zambino) Ravashiere, Nicky ultimately traveled the world. Enlisting in the Navy at age 16 with his mother’s permission, he served as a radioman in campaigns in North Africa and the Pacific, then returned home to finish high school and attend Michigan State University, from which he graduated in 1951 with degrees in Physical Education and Business. Nicky met Virginia at MSU; they married on Oct. 6, 1951 in East Lansing, Mich., and remained lifelong Spartan fans.
Following a long professional career in corporate credit and finance that included a three-year stint in Belgium during the 1960s, Nicky “retired” in the 1980s to a second career as a mediator and arbitrator, working in private practice and with the U.S. Postal Service and American Arbitration Association. Nick’s dedication to the rights of the little guy and his never-give-up attitude are exemplified by the 1990s campaign he successfully (and single-handedly) waged with the North Carolina Legislature to ensure that non-attorney mediators – not just attorneys -- could be appointed to mediate North Carolina court cases.
Over the course of their marriage, Nick and Virginia moved more than 10 times due to the demands of his corporate career; however their last big move, from Charlotte, N.C. to Tucson in 2003, was made to be closer to their adored children and grandchildren. A generous, kind, and loving man with an easy laugh who could fix almost anything with duct tape, Nick also personified the lyrics to the song “My Way.” His sage advice and inspiring perseverance in pursuit of his goals continue to guide those he left behind. He is deeply missed.
A memorial service will be held on Nicky’s birthday, Aug. 6, at 11 a.m., at Evergreen Mortuary, Tucson, followed by a reception at the home of Christina Medvescek.
Donations in his memory can be made to to Special Olympics Arizona, http://www.specialolympicsarizona.org/donate or Disabled American Veterans, https://www.dav.org/.
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