Dr. Joseph Nicholson
By Joshua Burd
The state’s commercial real estate community is grieving the loss of Joseph Nicholson, a popular Montclair State University professor who became a familiar face in the industry as he built the school’s real estate program over more than a decade.
Nicholson died Saturday, May 17, according to a LinkedIn post written by his wife. His passing was “not only unexpected but shocking as well,” she wrote, prompting an outpouring of condolences from colleagues, former students and other real estate professionals in New Jersey who worked with him in various capacities.
“It is with profound sadness that I announce the passing of my beloved husband Joseph and loving father to our two boys,” Candance Nicholson wrote in the post this week, later adding: “We are overwhelmed with grief … Joe truly enjoyed his role over the years as an Associate Professor at Montclair State University. He was heartfelt when it came to the guidance and mentoring of his students to pursue and achieve their professional and educational endeavors. He was very dedicated in his profession and in personal life as a husband and father. Words cannot fully express the heavy loss.”
Nicholson, who earned a Ph.D. in real estate from the University of Georgia, joined Montclair State in 2013 as an assistant professor in the department of economics and finance. His role grew over time alongside the university’s degree and certificate programs in real estate, which he coordinated while mentoring students and organizing events that helped connect them with established professionals in the industry.
Kimberly Hollister, dean of Montclair’s Feliciano School of Business, said Nicholson had a profound impact on the school and its real estate programs.
“He worked tirelessly to build a program that not only served our students but also engaged the regional real estate community,” Hollister wrote in an email to Real Estate NJ. “At the heart of everything Joe did were his students — he was deeply committed to their success, helping them secure internships and job opportunities, and bringing industry leaders onto our Real Estate Advisory Board to ensure they were prepared for the real world. Joe’s warm, engaging personality made him a beloved figure on campus. He connected with students in ways that were both inspiring and deeply personal. His loss is felt across our community.”
NAIOP New Jersey CEO Dan Kennedy added: “Dr. Joseph Nicholson was a tireless advocate for his students and our industry in New Jersey. We value our relationships with our university partners and depend on leaders like Joe to create the pipeline for the future of our next developing leaders. Additionally, Joe served as a Deal of the Year judge for our Chapter annually and contributed greatly to the creativity of this important process. He will be missed by the Chapter team and our members.”
Nicholson was an expert in real estate investment Trusts, real estate finance, gentrification and other areas. He also taught real estate courses at the University of Georgia, one of the top real estate programs in the country, while he had other professional experience in both finance as an institutional bond analyst and real estate as a project manager.
Among those sharing their condolences on LinkedIn were Andrea Fiorenza, a financial analyst with G.S. Wilcox & Co. in Morristown, who wrote: “Dr. Nicholson had a way of making everyone feel seen. He always shared a smile and helped guide so many students toward their careers. His impact won’t be forgotten. Keeping his family in my prayers!
Michael McGuinness, who preceded Kennedy as NAIOP New Jersey CEO, called Nicholson “a passionate man who cared deeply about his responsibilities.”
“I enjoyed his company on numerous occasions and stories about the South,” McGuinness wrote on LinkedIn. “When we traveled to Scotland last year for a family trip, and had difficulty finding lodging, he offered to let us use his property on the Isle of Skye. He was a good soul and I will miss his voice and smile.”
Nicholson’s wife said his family was holding a memorial service and celebration of life in his home state of Tennessee. He was an avid supporter of and donor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, she added, inviting contributions and donations in his honor.
