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Nichols's final story on Wednesday was about two Lyndhurst police officers who were cleared by a grand jury in Hackensack in the shooting death of a man who authorities said charged at them with a knife.
Around 3 a.m. Thursday, police on patrol found Nichols' body next to his white Dodge caravan with the door open.
He'd died of an aortic dissection, family members said.
Nichols was born in Jersey City and was graduated from North Bergen High School.
A fervent church-goer and member of the Bergen County NAACP, he championed the rights of the homeless, volunteering with the River Mission at the Second Reformed Church in Hackensack and focusing on areas where he believed that services were lacking or non-existent.
He leaves two children, Paul F. Nichols Jr. and Emma Nichols, both of Hasbrouck Heights, a brother, Howard (and his wife, Julia), of Wayne, and three sisters: Catherine Zimmermann (and her husband, Dennis) of Pennsylvania, Sue Gannon (and her husband, Mike), of Augusta, and Patricia Nichols of North Arlington, along with several nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours were scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, including services at 7 p.m., at the Parow Funeral Home, 185 Ridge Road, North Arlington.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the River Mission at the Second Reformed Church, 436 Union Street, Hackensack.
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