Robert Nickerson, 78, husband of Elspeth, and father of Andrew and Patricia Nickerson, died peacefully at his home on Nov. 11 after a struggle with BOOP, a restrictive lung disease.
Nickerson was born in Beaver City, Neb. in 1925. At 18, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and fought in World War II with the 410th Infantry Division in France and Germany. He won a Combat Infantry Badge for his service. Following the war, he attended the University of Nebraska, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
His admiration of Europe led him back to Switzerland, where he joined M.R.A. Through his experience with the organization he met many of his lifelong friends, including his wife.
Nickerson practiced commercial real estate in Downtown Los Angeles for 20 years, representing Grubb & Ellis and the Charles Dunn Company as a broker on numerous transactions. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Los Angeles. Nickerson’s spiritual journey led him to convert to Catholicism and become a member of Opus Dei. He and his family resided in Pacific Palisades for 25 years before moving to Malibu in 1997.
Funeral services took place Wednesday at Our Lady of Malibu Church.