In Loving Memory of Nikki Lucas
June 5, 2025It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our longtime friend and colleague, Nikki Hastings Lucas, who left us on Monday, May 19, after a brief but courageous battle with cancer.
On behalf of all of us at ObesityHelp, we are deeply heartbroken by the loss of such a kind and compassionate soul. Nikki was so much more than a colleague—she was a treasured friend, a guiding light, and a welcoming presence at our national conferences, where so many of you came to know and love her.
Nikki was deeply dedicated to the ObesityHelp community, always going above and beyond to support others with sincerity, empathy, and unwavering care. She never met a stranger she couldn’t talk to and brought her whole heart to every connection. She devoted nearly 30 years to healthcare, supporting so many others with the spirit of always doing what she could possibly do to give back or to pay it forward by sharing her knowledge and experiences to help others on their journeys. It was her true passion. She cared deeply, honestly, and always.
Nikki had a smile that would light up any room. She was so kind, vibrant, funny, and full of heart and adventure. Whether she was traveling, attending concerts, exploring haunted places, or simply enjoying the quiet beauty of a sunrise or sunset, she embraced life with her whole heart. She adored her cats, Lemmy and Lily, and above all, loved her husband, Nathan, and her family and friends with all that she had; there was no mistake about that!
Nikki’s legacy of love, kindness, and compassion will live on in the countless lives she touched. She will be so deeply missed and will forever be a light in our hearts.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to Nikki’s beloved husband, Nathan, her cherished family, and many friends around the world.
We will love you always, Nikki.
Forever in Our Hearts:
Memories of Nikki
When I think of Nikki, I am brought back to our friendship of almost 24 years; she was like a sister to me. Our phone calls could last for hours; we shared heartfelt conversations, laughed until we cried, told our life stories, and talked about our hopes and dreams. She remembered the little things and offered encouragement when it mattered most. She was a great listener, advice giver, and an amazingly thoughtful friend. Her friendship was such a gift in my lifetime; I will miss her always. - Tammy Colter
I had the pleasure of working with Nikki Lucas for nearly 19 years, and in those years I was introduced to one of the toughest advocates and one of the most caring individuals for the patients who needed help in their fight for better health. She will be missed by so many whom she connected with personally, and beyond that, the families of the patients she helped. I wish peace for all of Nikki's family and friends, especially her loving husband, Nathan. They were a true match and I'm sure will continue as such. - Kim Gyurina
I'll never forget Nikki's kindness, strength, and sense of humor. She knew exactly when to lift me up or give me a well-timed kick in the butt-I loved that the most about her. You'd think working remotely would create distance, but with Nikki, it was the opposite. Despite the thousands of miles between us, we built a genuine friendship over 22+ years, and somewhere along the way, she became part of my family. I am deeply grateful for every moment we shared. She will always be part of the spirit that helped shape ObesityHelp's mission, and her presence will continue to be felt in all that we do. - Shannon
ObesityHelp and our community has truly lost a good one. Nikki was a spitfire, and I was lucky to work with her for many years to support our community through the efforts of ObesityHelp. She will be deeply missed. - Yelena Kibasova
When I first was introduced to OH, I remember how amazing the community/event made me feel, welcomed and heard. My 2nd year, attending the OH event, I knew I had to be a part of it (from the inside), so to speak. I remember asking Loi about any potential employment opportunities, and a couple of days later, I received a call from Nikki Lucas... I think that conversation lasted a couple of hours, and the interaction was effortless. When I went in for my interview, Nikki helped me feel relaxed and welcomed, and even though we'd only spoken over the phone at that time, the first meeting didn't even feel like an interview, lol. Nikki had a way of remembering so many little details, names, etc., and it was so refreshing over the years to chat about our lives, kids, moving, marriages, her grandkids, and struggles and to never feel judged and welcomed to share more. I'm so blessed to have initially called her my boss, but most importantly, my friend. You have always shown tremendous strength and determination in setting goals, and I am so proud of the impact you've made in our community. - Lauren Sanchez
Nikki Lucas was such an amazing person. Extremely kind and caring. I always looked forward to seeing and working with her at the OH conference. I loved her sense of humor and her take-no-crap-from-people attitude. I loved hearing about her adventures with Nathan. My heart is broken. I can’t believe she is really gone. I just saw her eight months ago, and she was fine. The conference won’t be the same without her. Fly high, my dear friend. I love you. - Michelle J
I met Nikki Lucas in 2013 at OH, and over the years she was a bright light of love, hope, help, and friendship. Nikki made every event brighter and went above and beyond. Her posts on OH showed her love for the members, her caring nature, and her spirit. When my Dad passed right before OH in 2017, her words of, "I'm so glad you are here, and do you need a hug?" Cemented the fact that we are family. Although we might have seen each other once a year, that was because of our busy lives. It was like we had just seen each other. My thoughts of OH and the conference always included that I get to see Nikki. She will be deeply missed by me, the members at the UCLA support group who knew her, and anyone who she met/knew/chatted with. - Michelle Boskin
I had the pleasure and honor of working with Nikki Lucas for over 20 years. During this time, I got to know her and her hard work ethic. She was always calm under pressure and rose to any challenge that came her way. I always admired that; she was very inspiring. I loved hearing what concerts she and Nathan would go to and seeing if those bands were heading this way. They hardly did because we are such a small venue, so when I went to Seattle or Portland to see a big band show, I would always have to tell her so I could be as with it as a rocker like she and Nathan were, lol. It has been tough to not be able to reach out to you. We truly miss you, Nikki, and your inspiration to do better will always be with us. - Jeff Cooper
In my contacts she is known as “Nikki OH.” I know her last name, but it’s how I’ve always organized my rolodex of people, their name and how I associate them. My relationship with Nikki was on a professional level mostly, though we got to share a laugh or two when speaking of more personal matters. The strongest association I have with Nikki is one of kindness. Over the years, whether it was an email, text, phone call, or Zoom meeting, she was always respectful and kind. She was always a staple at the Obesity Help conference. That consistent, predictable, and welcoming person that you always looked forward to seeing. She seemed like an old friend from childhood who brought a familiar, comfortable vibe. It always felt like I knew her longer than what I did.
This morning, I was looking back at some of our last correspondence. In February she was telling me how she was looking forward to seeing the Eagles at the Sphere with her husband. This was a “small vacation” and mini honeymoon for the two of them. You could tell she was super excited! We were also talking about brainstorming ideas for the upcoming 2025 national conference. Fast-forward to when she reached out on April 8 and informed me of her diagnosis and plans for treatment. In typical professional fashion, she kept it brief and kept the focus on professional matters. All I could do is let her know we would be praying for her and to keep us in the loop. She simply thanked me.
And then in May, Kim at Obesity Help reached out to let me know the morning of Nikki’s passing. What? Too young, too soon. It hit hard, and it still does. I never got to thank her for always being gracious and sweet. For me, it serves as another reminder of how precious time is. I will miss Nikki, her warmth, and kind smile, especially at the conference this fall. My memories of her will serve as a reminder to take the time to be kind in a world that can always use more of it. - Dr. Steven Reyes
