Frederick Nicola “Nick” Gigliotti passed away peacefully at home in Ohio on May 28, 2026, at the age of 88, just weeks shy of his 89th birthday.

Nick was born on June 18, 1937, in Bedford, Ohio, to Frank and Madeline Gigliotti. He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved granddaughter, Dahlia Siders.

Known as Nick to family and friends, he lived a life defined by hard work, adventure, and deep devotion to his family.

A proud veteran, Nick served in the United States Army. After his military service, he built a life that reflected his wide range of talents and interests.

An entrepreneur at heart, Nick owned and operated his own upholstery business, designing and fabricating custom furniture that was used on television and movie sets and shipped internationally. His shop was truly a family operation, where all of his children-and many of their friends-worked alongside him and learned from him.

Nick’s life also took him into film and television in the 1960s, where he worked on productions in Florida and performed stunt work, including appearances connected to shows such as Flipper, Gentle Ben, and the movie Thunderball. He also worked as a stuntman at Pioneer City in Ocala, Florida, and later ran his own stunt crew and performed in stunt shows, bringing his fearless energy and creativity to audiences.

He was also an accomplished pilot, learning to fly small aircraft, and embraced anything that involved skill, precision, and adrenaline.

An elite competitor, Nick was a two-time Western Fast Draw World Champion and set a world record in the sport during the 1960s. He also raced professionally on the Husqvarna motocross team and served as a sparring and training partner for light heavyweight boxing champion Willie Pastrano.

Nick shared his love of sports and competition by coaching youth athletics, including serving as head coach of the Pendleton Junior Football League Bears, leading them to championship seasons in 1991 and 1992. He also coached youth baseball and valued helping young athletes build confidence and discipline.

Nick enjoyed bowling with his wife, Pat, playing golf, and spending time at the shooting range with his children and grandchildren. His favorite times were spent dancing with Pat. He never met a stranger and was known for his gravelly voice, larger-than-life stories, and ability to connect with anyone he met.

He also had a deep love for animals, especially his Doberman Pinschers and his cat, Pootzie.

Nick is survived by his wife, Pat Gigliotti; his sister, Gloria Christman; his children, Nicholette (Marshall) Jackson, Tricia (Steve) Endrezl, William (Jennifer) Gigliotti, Stephanie (Bryce) Carrico, Antonio “Tony” Gigliotti, Angelina (Nate) Siders, and Delphina (Daniel) Branham; his grandchildren, Taylor (Chase) Cravens, Hunter Branham, Gavin Carrico, Hayden Carrico, Emma Branham, Sophia Siders, and Rowan Branham; and his great-granddaughter, Frankie Cravens.

Nick will be remembered as a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, coach, veteran, entrepreneur, competitor, and friend. Above all, he will be remembered for his love of family, his stories, and the full and adventurous life he lived.