Obituary of Nicholas Dante Lucchesi

Nicholas Dante Lucchesi, 20, was born on August 18, 1998 on Hilton Head Island, the only child of Dana and Joe Lucchesi, and passed away on October 25, 2018. Nick graduated from Hilton Head Preparatory School, class of 2016, and was currently a junior at the University of South Carolina-Beaufort (USC-B). Nick was a true Island child growing up on our waterways. He believed that one was at his or her best while out on the water and with nature. Learning how to fish at an early age, he earnestly believed in catch and release in order to preserve our fragile resources. Upon earning his captain’s license at the age of 18, he established his own business, Fins Up Fishing Charters, and spent last summer practicing his craft while building his business clientele. Nick enjoyed the art of polling his flats boat where he could truly be in nature’s purest state peacefully, quiet and independent. He became extremely familiar of the local waterways, the ecology and the entire local eco systems. He worked at Southern Drawl Outfitters since the age of twelve and was loved by the charter fishing community. Nick was always one to help out a fellow fisherman and could always be called on to lend a hand. He was deeply passionate about mariculture and conservation efforts and regularly spent time in the Florida Keys angling in several competitive events for reef conservation preservation. Nick’s other passion in life was sports, especially baseball. He enjoyed collecting memorabilia and was fortunate to have a cadre of professional athletes as friends but more than anything, enjoyed watching sports with his friends and family and participating in intramural flag football and basketball with his USC-B friends and roommates. As a player, he was a fiery, competitive and determined athlete. He loved his team members and coaches. He played baseball from a very young age, beginning with the Hilton Head Island Baseball Association (HHBA) and then went on to play travel baseball with the Hilton Head Tides, Bluffton Blaze, the Charleston Braves and two years with American Legion Baseball. He proudly played varsity baseball for Hilton Head Preparatory school for four years. Nick was a passionate free spirit who surrounded himself with wonderful friends regardless of their strengths, weaknesses, backgrounds or interests. Throughout his life, he was friends with all. The Lucchesi home was ground-zero for his friends to hang out, eat, watch sports or head out on his boat and explore the beauty of the island. Nick wasn’t an only child, he had many brothers. Nick is survived by his parents, Joe and Dana Lucchesi of Hilton Head Island, his maternal grandmother, Rosa Kinard of Olar, SC, his beloved chocolate lab, Nova and his many, many countless friends who describe him as a “real person”, welcoming, caring and respectful. He just would make your day better. He was met in heaven by his paternal grandmother, Mary Lucchesi of Hilton Head Island. The family appreciates the profound outpouring of love from everyone. A beautiful Candlelight Vigil in his honor was held at USC-B on November 1st and attended by hundreds of family, friends and students. A Celebration of Life is planned for the near future.