Obituary
Dominic Raymond Cols

Nic – husband, father, grandfather, and friend – passed away on October 17, 2025, in Raleigh, NC, after a courageous battle with cancer. Nic was preceded in death by his parents, Simon Cols and Mary Ellen Trotter Cols, his brother Gregory Cols, and his sister Christiane Cols Sendek. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Sandra Poore Cols; his children, Gregory Cols and his wife, Mary; Melanie Cols Green and her husband, Tucker; his six grandchildren; and his siblings Patricia Cols Frykberg, Matthew Cols, and Danielle Cols Sussman. Nic was born on Christmas Day, 1954 in Antwerp, Belgium to Simon and Mary Ellen Cols. His family moved to the USA in 1957, and he grew up in Emerson, NJ. He attended Bergen Catholic High School and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1976. Nic married Sandy Poore in Baltimore, MD, and his career led them to Colorado, Arizona, North Carolina, and Georgia. Nic loved being a father to Greg and Melanie and passed along his love of camping, skiing, hiking, and singing to them and their families. Nic sang in barbershop choruses, classical choirs, and church choirs throughout his entire life; most recently, he was a member of The Master’s Men gospel chorus, Oak City Sound barbershop chorus, and the Seventh Dimension quartet. Nic always stepped in to serve or lead, and was never afraid to try something new. During retirement, he played golf, volunteered at the golf course, sang, and even played the part of Abraham Lincoln at several local events (they were both 6’4”)! For Nic, a walk around the neighborhood took twice as long because he would always take time to stop and chat with neighbors along the way. His greatest joy was spending time with his six grandchildren - Erin, Elyse, and Emilia Cols in Raleigh and Margot, Ellen, and Hugh Green in Atlanta. They all loved their granddad. Nic had a strong faith in God and placed his trust in Jesus. His family takes great comfort knowing that he is now free from pain and is present with his Savior, where songs of praise and joy will never end. Details of a memorial service will be shared soon. “Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!” – Psalm 117