Mark J. Nicolich, Jr., 72, of West Amwell, NJ, died on Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at the St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center, Lawrence, NJ.

Born in Jersey City, Mark had been a West Amwell resident for over 30 years. Earlier he had lived in Essex Fells, Skillman and Millstone, NJ. He was a statistician who served as a consultant to businesses throughout the country. After a longstanding consultant-client relationship with Exxon-Mobile, he joined their staff full time, while maintaining his private practice. He was an instructor as well and taught statistics at UMDNJ in Newark (now Robert Wood Johnson University Medical School), Rider University in Lawrenceville, Rutgers University in New Brunswick and the New School for Social Research in New York City. Mark was a graduate of Delbarton Prep in Morristown, NJ. He received his under graduate degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselear Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY, as well as his master’s degree. He earned his PhD from Rutgers University.

An avid hobbyist, Mark belonged to the Soda Quakers, a group of friends who enjoyed masterminding and building man powered kinetic sculptures. They entered their creations in the Annual Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race. They created prize winning scarecrows for the annual competition and display at Peddlers’ Village in Lahaska, PA. Mark loved technology, both its history and its latest innovations. He was an audiophile with an extensive vinyl music collection. He was a gifted photographer and loved world travel.

He loved his family and is survived by his wife Ruth Schwacke Nicolich; his daughters Zoe Nelson and Cleis Murillo and his granddaughters Bianca Murillo, Cora Nelson and Brielle Murillo all of Middlesex, NJ and his former son-in-law Christopher Nelson of New Brunswick, NJ.

A memorial gathering will be held at the Fireside Lounge at the student center at Rider University, 2083 Lawrenceville, Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

In lieu of flowers memorial donations in Mark J. Nicolich, Jr.’s memory may be made to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065 (development@mskcc.org) .