Obituary of Richard Nikolaev

Born in Moscow during the war, shipped to the Ural Mountains with all the other kids before the Nazi's were stopped at Stalingrad. He told the story of this memory of traveling on a cargo ship as a refugee through the Black Sea, through the Suez Canal, with long stops along the way to New York. His Mom was a Russian American who had married a Russian professor, Nik's Dad was purged by Stalin and sent to Siberia, never to be seen or heard from again. He grew up in NYC, his Mom worked for the UN as a translator, and lived in Brooklyn. They returned to Denver, which is where he mostly grew up, and joined the Marines at 17. After the Marines he married Sandy and became a traveling salesman for a surgical supply company. He subsequently became, over time, the CEO of three different orthopedic device manufacturing companies, the orthopedic industry was his passion. He and Sandy were married nearly 60 years. In addition to his wife he is survived by daughter, Kimberly and son Cort. Joined in Heaven with family that has gone before; Mother, Nettie Mystkowski, Stepfather, Alex Mystkowski, cousins Jay Hulitzky, Wayne Hulitzky, Sandy Kennedy. Grandmother Dorothy Burak. Should friends desire, contributions may be sent to Hospice of the Valley or your favorite charity.