Philosophy instructor dies Thursday

Peter Nicholls, a Portland State graduate and instructor of philosophy, died Thursday morning at home after a month-long battle with leukemia. Nicholls graduated from Portland State University in 1969 with his bachelor’s degree and went on to pursue graduate and some doctorate work at the University of Washington.

Peter Nicholls, a Portland State graduate and instructor of philosophy, died Thursday morning at home after a month-long battle with leukemia.

Nicholls graduated from Portland State University in 1969 with his bachelor’s degree and went on to pursue graduate and some doctorate work at the University of Washington. He graduated with his master’s degree from UW in 1976.

An experienced and well loved PSU faculty member, Nicholls taught the first day of winter term classes on Jan. 8, and then checked into Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center on Jan. 9. Nicholls, who was in his early 60s, left the hospital Wednesday night and went home after his medical condition worsened.

Nicholls’ received intense amounts of chemotherapy for his leukemia during the month that he was in the hospital. Soon before his death, doctors tried to give the PSU faculty member antibiotics to help him survive, but Nicholls’ organs quit working.

Nicholls passed away early Thursday morning at home with friends and his only surviving family member, his wife, present.

Students from his classes described him as an engaging professor, funny and quirky and one of the best professors at PSU, according to comments on www.ratepsu.com.

“Between the old suits, the goofy ties, and kick-ass lectures, this guy had me laughing/interested for my entire experience in Intro. to Ancient Philosophy,” one commenter wrote.

Nicholls worked as an instructor in the philosophy department, teaching a variety of upper and lower level classes, according to philosophy department chair Grant Farr. “He didn’t really have a specialty, so much as he was a good teacher,” Farr said.

“He was a very kind and friendly person,” Farr said. “He was a great person.”

Portland State has not yet planned a memorial service for Nicholls, and Nicholls requested that his family not have a private memorial service.