Nicholas A. Pope

Nicholas A. Pope (Nick), 81, of Loon Lake died peacefully at his home in Peru on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 with his wife by his side.

Nick was born June 28, 1942 to Henrietta Pope (Latourelle) and Nicholas A. Pope in Plattsburgh, NY as the last of eight children and grew up on “Fox Hill” on South Catherine Street.

Nick began working at the Brown Funeral Home in high school mowing lawns in the summer and shoveling snow in the winter. Mr. Brown offered him an apprenticeship which began a lifetime of working at and then owning the Brown Funeral Home, serving hundreds of families throughout his almost 40-year tenure as a funeral director before retiring in 1995.

In 1961 he married his love Jeanne Brown and raised two children, Stephen Pope and Colleen Pope (Lemza).

Nick was very involved in serving the community he loved so much. He was actively involved in the Plattsburgh and North Country Chamber of Commerce, serving as president of the board of directors in the mid-70s. He was very involved in Rotary International and served as president in the 80s. He was Rotarian of the Year and was awarded with the Rotary Paul Harris award. He was a member of the Elks Club and part of the Knights of Columbus. Nick and his wife, Jeanne co-chaired the annual United Way Campaign, he was a board member of Hospice of the North Country and served as president of the Plattsburgh Air Force Base Community Liasion Commission.

Throughout the 1980s, Nick was very involved in the SUNY Plattsburgh Summer Music Theater with Chuck and Ruth Kline. He performed in numerous musicals every summer including Gypsy, Guys and Dolls, The Fantastiks, Hello Dolly, Man of LaMancha, Oklohoma, Oliver and others with leading roles.

Upon Nick’s retirement, he and Jeanne spent 13 winters at their home in Fort Myers, Florida before returning to his beloved Loon Lake.

Nick knew everyone in the community and was known for his storytelling and generous spirit. His favorite place was his Adirondack front porch in Loon Lake, although one might have also found him at Nick’s Restaurant (no relation) on Brinkerhoff Street in the 70s, Arnies Restaurant or at the Butcher Block talking to everyone he knew. Nick was a believer in working hard and treating everyone, no matter how poor or rich, with dignity and respect. To Nick, his grandchildren were his world and he was so proud of them.

He is survived by his wife Jeanne of almost 60 years, his children Stephen Pope of Manhattan and Colleen Lemza (Pope) and her husband Michael of Peru; their three grandchildren Garrett Lemza and twins Emelia and Madeline Lemza; and a brother Michael Pope of Poughkeepsie along with numerous brothers and sisters-in law, nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to Hospice of the North Country for all their support in the last days of his life. Calling hours will be at the Brown Funeral Home on Thursday, January 11 from 4-6 p.m. with a funeral mass at OLVC on Friday at 2 p.m. Donations may be made to Hospice of the North Country in his memory in lieu of flowers.