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
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 September 6, 2025, from 11:30 a.m.
to 3:30 p.m., in the Champlain Room at 375 Maple Street, 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 the Ready Funeral and Cremation Services. To send
online condolences, please visit cremationsocietycc.com.