"Nicholas John Odyniec “Nick”, 74, died June 1, 2018 after a lengthy illness.
He was born in Bansleban, Germany on November 29, 1943. He immigrated to this country in 1951 with his father, Nicholas, and mother, Marynia, but his mother died soon after they arrived. In 1956, his father married Mary Sullivan Odyniec who Nick greatly appreciated as a second mother to him. He was preceded in death by all of his parents, and a brother, Andrew Odyniec.
Nick is survived by his wife of 46 years, Gail Lease Odyniec; his wonderful children, Shannon and Nicholas and his wife, Christina; and two beautiful grandchildren, Alexis and Nicholas “Will”, all of Fredericksburg; and his brother, Mark (Terri); and their two children, Jackie and Paul, all of Connecticut.
Nick received a B.A. from Concord College and then served in the US Army as a Medic before attending Radford University and graduating with a M.A. in Psychology. He worked as a psychologist with the Virginia Department of Corrections at various centers for troubles youth and a private clinic in Wytheville, Virginia before retiring. Most recently, he assisted with the responsibilities at Dawning Point – Four Mile Fork Childcare Center with his wife and family who have owned the center since 1991.
Nick loved music and playing the guitar and sang in several bands while in college. As a teenager, he participated in a karate exhibition at the Olympics in Canada and shared this interest with his son so they were both black belts at a young age. He enjoyed Sci Fi books and movies and staying up to date on the computer. He liked silly words and even sillier names and laughing with his daughter. Grandpa O was a master at winning prizes from claw machines for his grandchildren. He was compassionate and caring, “a good listener” to the young people he worked with as a psychologist. Above all, Nick loved his family and friends and is dearly missed."