Meet Deercreek Resident – Nick Simonic
By Joan Hecht
Nick was born and raised in what he calls, “The Mistake on the Lake,”- Cleveland, Ohio. When his family fell on hard times, Nick was placed in an orphanage from ages 4-7, before being reunited with his family. He dropped out of high school in the 11th grade to travel the country with friends, until joining the Army at age 19. While waiting in line at the Army induction center, he met a young man named, Gary, who suggested that they both forget about joining the Army and go instead to a local bar for a beer. But Nick was firm in his commitment; choosing the option of joining the Army, rather than being drafted into the Vietnam War. As it turned out, Nick and Gary became good friends and were, by divine providence, in the same platoons throughout Nick’s brief military career. While serving as a paratrooper with the 101st airborne, Nick learned that he could earn his GED in an air conditioned classroom, as opposed to training in the hot outdoors and says “that was a no brainer.”
In February of 1968, Nick and Gary’s squad was ordered to free a group of Vietnamese villagers being held captive by North Vietnamese soldiers. They were among three soldiers to arrive first to the village. Lying in a ditch across the road and knowing it was an extremely dangerous mission, they decided to draw straws to determine who would cross the road first. The man with the shortest straw, (who was due to leave the combat zone immediately after citing religious opposition), was the first to cross the road. Tragically, he was shot and killed in the process. Nick held the middle straw and bravely ran across the road behind him. As he jumped into the adjacent ditch, he was shot in the leg, causing significant injuries. Even though he was in immense pain, he provided life-saving cover for his friend Gary as he crossed over. Nick would later receive the Purple Heart for his heroic efforts.
In addition to his role as a paratrooper, Nick was a bazooka gunner and he carried his bazooka with him that day. After receiving much needed pain medication and being left in the ditch awaiting medevac, he discharged his bazooka, unintentionally hitting a key North Vietnamese bunker. The removal of this bunker would prove pivotal in allowing his troop to successfully complete their mission; earning Nick a commendation Medal of Valor. Nick spent a year recuperating from his injuries in a hospital in Denver, Colorado.
When back on the mend he and a friend headed out for a late night of partying on the town. In the process they worked up an appetite and his friend suggested they go to “Millie’s house” saying, “She’ll cook us breakfast!” Sure enough, even though crashing her house in the wee hours of the morning, Millie rallied and cooked an amazing breakfast of steak and eggs; securing not only the key to Nick’s stomach, but also the key to his heart. They later married and moved to Cleveland, which Millie absolutely hated. Nick told her if she could save a $1000 that they would move to her home state of New York. After securing a part time secretarial job, Millie saved the required funds and her wish was granted. With a VA disability grant, Nick attended Wagner College in Staten Island, majoring in economics, with a minor in accounting; but his passion was art and his art instructor was none other than Robert DeNiro Sr.!
In 1978, Millie and Nick moved to the Mandarin area of Jacksonville. Nick managed a Wendy’s and later purchased a sandwich shop called, Sub Spot. Millie worried that Nick was over worked and suggested that he find a new career path. Nick began praying for the right door to open and was soon offered a job in accounting, where he says, “he fell in love with numbers.” He enrolled at UNF, earning a bachelor and a master’s degree in accounting and a subsequent CPA license. One day, the youth pastor at his church asked for his help with filing out his income tax. In turn, he recommended Nick to all of his friends, who recommended him to all of their friends and in addition to his full time day job working as a comptroller, a new job developed (in his home), which became a revolving door to a vast number of clients. One day, when his young son asked if they would ever be alone in their home again, Millie put her foot down and told Nick to open up an office of his own. So, in 1986, the office of Simonic and Associates took root and has been serving clients around the world for 38 years.
In addition to his talent with numbers, Nick is an ordained minister and public speaker and for over 30 years, he hosted a radio show with co-host Roger Henderson on FM 88.1 called, “Financial Friday.” The two men will soon be hosting a new podcast called, “All Things Financial.”
Nick has lived a challenging and rewarding life, but he says that having Millie in his life has been his greatest achievement. “Millie is my life,” declares Nick, “without her my life would be really boring.” Nick claims to be the boss of the family, but admits that he’d have to ask Millie about that first!
What brought you to Deercreek:
In 1994, at Millie’s suggestion, they took a drive over to a new community under construction called- Deercreek. As they approached the round property sales building to the left of the front entrance, there was a big sign that said, “Welcome Home!” Nick said that’s all it took for him; he knew he was “home.” They moved into their new home in 1995 and they have been club members since 1994. Nick has also served on our Board of Directors throughout the years in numerous positions.
Favorite Deercreek memory:
Nick says that some of his favorite memories involve parties at the club, such as New Years and Halloween. He remembers dressing as a witch one year and admits to falling under the spell of the spiked, “witches brew.” He also remembers closing down the party on New Year’s Eve.
Hobbies and Special Interest:
Nick still enjoys his passion for art and painting, but also enjoys fishing, reading, watching old movies, spending time with family and friends, the jumble in the daily newspaper, and his daily evening of appetizers and wine with his bride, Millie. Nick used to love skiing, until a knee injury ended that love affair. He also works out regularly; (in the garden, that is), and says that many of his neighbors have reaped the benefits of his efforts. He tried golfing once, but discovered that it, “really tee’d him off.”
