Dr. Steven Nichols, 69, a longtime and beloved principal at Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax County, VA and School Superintendent in Amherst County, VA, Staunton City, VA and Jefferson County, WV, passed away on May 8, 2021, at UVA University Hospital after a brief illness.

Dr. Nichols enjoyed a forty-seven-year career as an educator in a variety of roles from classroom teacher to Superintendent of Schools. Steve\u0027s passion for teaching was matched only by his love for his alma mater, The University of Virginia. The number of students Steve helped and mentored is immeasurable.

Dr. Nichols was born on December 26, 1951 in Kingsport, TN to Roy L. and Dana M. Nichols. He had a sister, Debbie. All family members preceded him in death.

Steve served in various education departments, including Fairfax County, Manassas Park City, VA, Culpeper County, VA, Manassas City, VA, Alexandria City, VA, Staunton City, VA, Jefferson County, WV, and Amherst County, VA. Dr. Nichols received his bachelor\u0027s, master\u0027s, and doctoral degrees from the University of Virginia. He also served as a part-time faculty member at UVA and James Madison University. Dr. Nichols was affiliated with Oxford University in the United Kingdom as a Visiting Scholar through his advanced studies in Ethics as well as Transitional Leadership in Public Policy. In 2010, he was elected as a Reader at the Bodleian Library at Oxford.

During his career as Superintendent, Dr. Nichols received the prestigious University of Virginia, Curry School of Education, Superintendent of the Year award. He also received the Phi Delta Kappa Leadership award.

Dr. Nichols also held a degree in American history and was a life-long researcher in various aspects of American history and culture. During his "college summers," Dr. Nichols was employed as a National Park Ranger with the U.S. National Park Service assigned to several of the national monuments and memorials in the Washington, D.C. area, including an extended period at the White House.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, May 14, 2021, at 11:00 am, at St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish, 401 Alderman Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903. A Vigil will begin at 10:00 am.

The Rite of Committal and burial will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, May 17, 2021
at the Fairfax Memorial Park Cemetery, 4401 Burke Station Road, Fairfax, VA 22032.

Memorial donations may be made in Dr. Nichols\u0027 memory to the University of Virginia Jeffersonian Historic Buildings Restoration and Maintenance Fund, P.O. Box 40087, Charlottesville, VA 22904 or the St. Jude Children\u0027s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory, 230 Frontier Drive, Staunton is in charge of his arrangements.

Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.coffmanfuneralhome.net