CMSGT Louis M. "Lou" Nicolucci (USAF Ret.) passed away peacefully in his sleep early Sunday morning, March 18, 2018, at his home in Melbourne, Florida. Lou was born May 8, 1933, to John Nicolucci and Teresa Delucia Nicolucci in East Rochester, New York. Lou graduated from East Rochester High School and Niagara University. He earned his Master's Degree from Wayne State University.

A career military man and inveterate traveler, Lou joined the Air Force in 1951 and retired in 1984. Along the way he served in Turkey, England, Germany, Vietnam, Thailand, Greece and Italy as well as at the Pentagon, Andrews Air Force Base and other bases around the United States.

Lou's final position with the Air Force was a Senior Enlisted Adviser for Public Affairs at the Pentagon. Before that, he wrote for Air Reservist Magazine, and gained honors as an Historian for both the 97 ^th Bombardment Wing and the 40 ^th Tactical group. In 1973, Lou was sent to Thailand where he wrote a classified history of the "11-day War," which was the period of heavy bombardment of North Vietnam by USAF B-52s operating out of Thailand. For this work, Lou was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal.

Lou served in the Air Force for 28 years. After Lou's retirement, he taught Air Force Junior ROTC at Oxon Hill High School in Maryland, before moving to Melbourne, Florida in 1991. Lou belonged to the Elks, the Knights of Columbus and several military associations. He served as a Lay Eucharistic Minister at Patrick Air Base Chapel. He also worked for many years at the Ascension Parish Thrift Store.

Lou's lifelong passion was golf, starting from his days as a caddy.  He shared this love with the hundreds of friends he acquired over his long life. Lou's joy in the everyday pleasures of life and in helping others never diminished.

Lou was a devoted husband and family man. He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Jeanne: his three sons, Michael, his wife Angie and daughters Lindsay, Kathryn, and Allison; Guy and his wife Lesley; Steve and his wife Nancy and their sons Andrew and James; and his two brothers Peter and Paul. He is predeceased by his sisters Julia and Anne Marie.

A funeral mass will be held at Ascension Catholic Church, Harbor City Boulevard, on Monday, March 26, at 11 a.m. All who knew Lou are invited to attend.