
Nicholas John Varriale

The Life of Nick Varriale
Obituary
Nicholas John Varriale Sr., 69, of Islip, NY, passed away on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Born on January 18, 1957, in Brooklyn, NY, he was a devoted husband to Sandra Varriale and a loving father to Jerome, Rachelle, Michael, and Nicholas Jr.
Nicholas spent many years navigating ongoing health challenges, having developed heart disease as a young father of four. He never allowed those obstacles to prevent him from providing for and loving his family. He found success in the technology field, with notable career achievements that included leading critical Y2K debugging efforts at the United Nations campus in Manhattan and contributing software used in advanced military aircraft systems with Northrop Grumman.
A lover of many genres of music, Nicholas especially enjoyed singing and was well known within the local Christian community for his captivating worship ministry, performing in church plays and Sunday services.
He found his greatest joy in his grandchildren. He spent countless hours drawing and coloring with them, playing cards, inventing games like bouncing quarters into a bucket, and filling the room with laughter. Even when he couldn’t quite hear the game, he would smile and ask, “Did you say an eight or an ace?”—to which the kids would joyfully shout back, “Ace, Pa!” Pa also enjoyed putting couch cushions all over the living room, having the kids bounce around to "JUMP". Those moments perfectly captured his warmth, humor, and deep love for his family.
Nicholas is survived by his wife Sandra; his children Jerome & Maria, Rachelle & Matthew, Michael & Jahnissi, Nicholas Jr. & Vanessa.; his grandchildren Soraya, Lydia, Daniel, Evelyn, Vincent, Benjamin, and Eleanor; his siblings Ralph, Francine, and Carl; and many extended family members and friends who will miss him dearly.
A celebration of life will be held on May 31st, 2026. Details below.
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Husband father, grandfather etc by her side, and I pray for comfort, peace & strength for her to move forward in this very difficult time. Much Love your Friend Lisa. ❤️🙏🏻💚❌⭕️
As a teenager, he faced challenges and ridicule while working hard and trying to find his place in the world. Those experiences could have hardened him, but instead they shaped him into someone compassionate, resilient, and understanding of others. Because he knew struggle, he listened deeply, cared sincerely, and treated people with kindness.
One of the turning points in his life came when he found his church. That faith community changed his path and gave him purpose, belonging, and hope. Like many genuine and trusting people, there were times he was taken advantage of, but even through disappointment and hardship, his faith never wavered.
Through that journey, he found his voice — not only as a singer, but as a person. Music became part of how he expressed his heart, faith, and spirit, allowing others to see the warmth and beauty that had always been within him.
What impresses me most when I think about his life is the family he built and the father he became. Despite hardships, he and his wife Sandy worked tirelessly to raise four incredible children. Their character and strength reflect the love, sacrifice, and guidance Nick and Sandy gave them every day.
He was smart, hardworking, genuine, and deeply devoted to the people he loved. He gave his best even when life was difficult, showing all of us what perseverance and grace truly look like.
His absence leaves an enormous void in our hearts, but his legacy lives on through his children, his family, his music, his faith, and the countless lives he touched simply by being himself.
Finally, I’d like share a regret I still carry. With all of my brother’s talents, we never really explored what we could have done if we had the time to play together and record our music. Time vanishes before our eyes, so do those things you’ve always wanted to do while you still can.
Your loving brother,
Carl and family
Penny Brown
We became pen pals and revived that old tradition. ! He would send long texts of biblical studies he completed or stories of his kids & grand kids. We shared heartaches and trials. When triumphs came we praised God together! Nick was faithful and true. He was an encourager. He had a sense of humor. He liked to tell the story of how he first met me ( Gina) . Pastor Hanby was visiting and needed a tie. Nick needed a ride & some help picking it out. So we ended up performing this simple but amusing task. We laughed & joked about many times!! God kept putting us together with Sandy & Nicole.. we parked right next to them in Disney one time & never knew they would be there. Imagine how surprised we all were to get out of the cars & see each other!! It just stuck. Our friendship stuck. Over the years through the trials we have had each other. We miss you Nick and we love you Sandy. See ya at the wedding feast of the Lamb Nick!
We had some great talks about God working in our lives,about our families etc.
Nick had a beautiful,powerful singing voice and always sang with passion and conviction.
We were teenagers and went to many events together,especially diners after service.
I aso knew Sandy from a young age and we were always over someone 's house as the families were very accommodating.
Nick's passion was not only in singing but he had a passion for people and their souls.
I had the privilege to be in Nick and Sandy' s Bridal party which was a great blessing to me.
He also had a strong character and showed kindness and mercy to others.
The time we spent together was probably from 1977 to 1987 however it left an impact on me.
Over the last 5 or so uear,we communicated through text messages which renewed our friendship.
I will miss him greatly.
Service
In lieu of flowers:
Please visit this link to Samaritan's Purse to make a donation: www.samaritanspurse.org/memorial-page/nicholas-john-varriale-islip-terrace-ny

