Obituary for Nicholas Travis

Nicholas A. Travis, 27, passed away peacefully at home on August 31, 2022, after a courageous battle with brain cancer. He leaves behind his beloved parents, Benjamin and Eileen, his older brothers Alexander and Patrick, his maternal grandfather, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Nick was born in Columbus, Ohio. As a young child, he always had a huge smile and great enthusiasm for new experiences and adventures. He learned early in life that hard work was necessary for him to succeed in school. That perseverance and work ethic served him well throughout his life. Nick graduated from St. Charles in 2014 and went on to study at John Carroll University, where he made many deep and lasting friendships. After graduating in 2018 with a degree in Business Administration, Nick moved to Detroit, MI and started his professional career with Techtronic Industries (TTI). Nick was incredibly proud of his success and independence.

Nick enjoyed traveling with friends and family. He particularly loved trips that included a beach and fishing. He loved animals, especially his dogs Shadow and Juno. He loved to cook and watch HGTV. Nick had very definite tastes (i.e., no green veggies) and a great eye for design. Nick always had a smile and a positive attitude. If family and friends worried about him, Nick’s famous response was always “I’m fine”.

Nick was always more concerned about the well-being of everyone around him, than he was about his own. He had strong opinions that were shared freely in conversations. Nick recently completed a bucket list item by getting a tattoo that identified what was important to him: Faith, Friends, and Family.

Nick was a loyal and generous son, brother, and friend. He made a lasting impression on everyone he met. Those who knew Nick, even just a little, lost a shining light in their lives and we are devastated by his loss. We will keep him forever in our hearts and be mindful of his favorite saying: Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift – that is why it is called the present.

The family would like to thank the OSU James Neuro-Oncology staff, especially Dr. Shirley Ong, Judy, and Allen for their compassionate care, humor, and hugs over the last two years.

Visitation will be held on Friday, September 9, 2022, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Hill Funeral Home (220 S State St., Westerville, OH 43081). A mass will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, September 10, 2022, at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church (313 N State St., Westerville, OH 43082).

In lieu of flowers the family asks for memorial donations to be made in Nick’s name to support the Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Research Fund (316016) at the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. Gifts may be made online at give.osu.edu/TravisAYA or by mail at to PO Box 710811, Columbus, OH 43271-0811.