Nicholas Hirsch

Nick Hirsch lived for speed, and loved Ferrari, motorcycles, and motorsports. He lived life in the fast lane, both literally and figuratively – Nick lived life with vigor, without regrets, and enjoyed every minute of it. Although Nick’s life was cut tragically short, those left behind may take comfort in the knowledge that Nick spent the time he had on this earth doing what he loved. Nick’s big smile, love of adventure, and friendly personality will live on in the hearts and memories of all those whose lives he touched.

Nicholas was born on March 27, 1975, to proud parents Nicholas G. and Catherine (Widmer) Hirsch. Nicholas and Cathy divorced while Nick was still quite young, and Nick grew up on the outskirts of Chicago, Illinois. Nick was a happy, outgoing kid, who loved people and made friends easily. Although he was an only child, his best friend, Kenny Horst, was like a brother.

As a child, Nick was fascinated by horsepower, and his dream was to work in the wind tunnels at Ferrari when he grew up. He spent a good deal of time on the family farm in Pennsylvania, which is where he first learned to ride a motorcycle. Nick had a mischievous streak, but this was motivated mainly by curiosity and a simple love of fun. In one infamous incident, he set his friend’s room on fire while trying to discover what happened when you burned a deodorant stick!

Nick loved speed, and he wrecked his fair share of cars once he got his driver’s license. He had a lot of mechanical aptitude, and worked at a local car dealership while he was in high school. After graduating from Marist High, Nick went on to Michigan State University. His university selection process was both simple and characteristic – he chose MSU since at the time it was ranked the #1 party school! Nick didn’t really enjoy his classes, however, and jumped at a job offer from Fred Grove, the owner of a motorsports dealership. Nick could fix anything, and he was a perfectionist, always holding himself to the highest standard. After working for Fred for a time, Nick returned to Chicago, where he became a bike messenger. He did this for six months, and would always look back to this episode in his life with pride.

A few years later, Nick enrolled at ITT Tech, where he graduated with honors in drafting. He was recruited by Northrop Grumman in Virginia, and started work as an electrical engineer. While working at Northrop Grumman, Nick met the woman who would be the love of his life: Stephanie Borum. Nick and Stephanie both had outgoing, abrasive personalities, and at first they did nothing but argue! After six months of smart-ass banter and mockery, however, they realized that they were perfect for each other. One evening while they were eating at a crowded restaurant in Williamsburg, Virginia, Stephanie got down on one knee and popped the question. Nick was in charge of the wedding, and he chose a Las Vegas ceremony. In next to no time, the happy couple was on a red-eye flight to Vegas and the Luxor Hotel. They were married on November 25, 2006.

After their marriage, Nick and Stephanie decided to move from Virginia to Michigan, where Nick started working for Fred Grove at Grove Motorsports again. They bought a farm – Nick was thrilled, since he now had room to build a dirt track to ride on. Nick was a family man at heart, and the most important part of his life was Stephanie and his three sons, Nicholas, Tucker, and Cy.

Outgoing, exuberant, and kind-hearted, Nick was a devoted husband, a loving father, and a loyal friend. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by his many friends and family members.

Nicholas D. “Nick” Hirsch died as the result of a motorcycle accident on October 2, 2012, at the age of 37. Nick’s family includes his wife, Stephanie (Borum) Hirsch; his sons, Nicholas Hirsch-Bennett, Tucker Johnson, and Cy Honeycutt; his parents, Nicholas Hirsch and Catherine Widmer; his grandmother, Dorothy Widmer; his mother- and father-in-law, Howard (Connie) Borum; his sisters-in-law, Rachel (Robbie) Patton and Cathy (Doug) Jenson; his brother-in-law, Trey Borum; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 6, at the Osgood Funeral Home in St. Johns, with Pastor Joe Rabideau officiating. The family will receive friends on Friday from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to Nick’s children. Please visit Nick’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com/memories/83746, where you can learn more about his life, share a favorite memory or photo, and sign the online guestbook.