Nicholas Patrick Shepard passed away unexpectedly, surrounded by his family, on July 22, 2025, at the age of 34.
Nick’s time with us was far too short, and his family and friends are devastated by his passing. He will be forever missed and forever remembered for his warmth, passion, loyalty, humor and the fullness with which he embraced life.
Born on April 11, 1991, in Burlington, Vt., Nick graduated from Burlington High School in 2009. He was an exceptional lacrosse player and team captain who set several scoring records and helped to lead his team to the 2007 Division 2 Vermont state championship. After high school, Nick worked a variety of associate and management positions for Shaw’s grocery stores, where he was admired by his colleagues and customers. His generosity and compassion will provide hope and healing to countless families after his passing, thanks to his lifesaving organ and tissue donations.
Nick was a lifelong learner, enthusiastically embracing a variety of new challenges such as AI voice-over work, soap and candle making, and most recently beekeeping and honeybee preservation. Nick cherished the outdoors from a young age and could be found snowboarding, rock climbing, hunting, fishing, golfing and playing softball in his beloved Green Mountain State. His memory will live on in those who knew and loved him: his mother, Kristine Flynn; father, Jan Shepard; and older brother, Alexander Shepard, and his partner, Kim Danziger. Nick will be dearly missed by his many aunts, uncles, cousins and large extended family, as well as the many close friends he made wherever his life’s adventures took him.
A Celebration of Life will be held on September 6, 2025, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., in the Champlain Room at 375 Maple St., Burlington, Vt., on the Champlain College campus. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Center for Donation & Transplant or the Vermont Beekeepers Association in Nick’s honor.
Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To send online condolences, please visit cremationsocietycc.com.
This article appears in Seven Daysies 2025.
I just saw this and immediately flooded in memories. Back when I was a little girl at Champlain Elementary Nick was my first ever “crush.” We called him “Nicky” and all the girls had it bad. We kissed under the slide on the playground in 1st grade and traded beaded keychains to make it official … and then… never discussed it again. Hahaha. I’ve heard through friends after I moved out of Burlington as a child that he was always a good friend and a nice guy. Sending love to his family and friends as you mourn this loss. Hopefully that story will make you laugh.