NICHOLS - Deborah C., passed away at home in Huntington Station, NY on September 10, 2015 after a long illness. She was surrounded by loving family during the final weeks of her life. Deborah Cohen was born on October 5, 1947 in Mount Vernon, NY to Lillian Birken and Charles Cohen. She graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1965 and Tufts University in 1969, where she earned her B.S. degree in Occupational Therapy. She married Thomas Nichols on September 7, 1969 and was able to sip a drink of Champagne through a straw after a beautiful toast delivered by Tom at a bedside 46th anniversary celebration on Monday. Debbi, as she liked to be called, was a very skilled occupational therapist. Later in her working life she joined forces in business with her husband and became a transcription scopist in their court reporting business. She made beautiful quilts for friends and family and was always willing to share her favorite recipes and culinary secrets with anyone who asked and even those who didn't. She was a fierce competitor at Jeopardy and Trivial Pursuit and expert at completing the New York Times Crossword puzzles. She is survived by her husband, Thomas Nichols, her sons Charles and Kenneth Nichols, her daughter-in law Laura Nichols, three grandsons Jhett, Crew, and Lawson Nichols, her sister Cecelia Dry and brother-in-law Murray Dry, her brother Steven Cohen and sister-in-law Sharon Cohen, her brothers-in-law John and Robert Nichols and sisters-in-law Diane and Darlene Nichols and nieces Angela Nichols, Rachel Dry, Judith Dry and Catherine Nichols and many cousins. (Published in Newsday on Sept. 13, 2015.)