Obituary for Nicholas Harold Hardwick Jr.
GLENBURN- 43, Nick Hardwick died unexpectedly March 8, 2023, while on vacation with his family. He was born August 3, 1979, in Blue Hill, Maine, the son of Elizabeth Hardwick (now Beth Gordon), and Nicholas Hardwick Sr.
Nick graduated from MDI High School in 1997, and from Beal College (Criminal Justice Major, Magna Cum Laude) in 2000. Nick later attended the police academy, worked as a part-time officer for Bar Harbor PD, and started working at the Penobscot County Jail (in 2001). Nick worked as a part-time corrections officer, becoming full-time in 2002, Corporal in 2010, Sargent in 2018, Lieutenant in 2019, and finally, Jail Administrator/Captain in 2022. Nick also was a reserve officer for Southwest Harbor Police Department starting in 2012 till his passing. In 2011, Nick met the love of his life Jessica, and they married in May of 2015.
Surviving in addition to his wife, Jessica Hardwick, are his daughter, Kadance Hardwick of Glenburn, and son, Drew Hardwick of Tennessee (as well as Drew’s mother, Liz); his father, Nicholas Hardwick Sr of Winterport, his mother, Beth Gordon and stepfather, Rusty Gordon of Sullivan; brother, Ryan Hardwick of Bar Harbor, sister, Jillian Hardwick and partner, Drew Urquhart of Sullivan, brother, Ryan Gordon and wife, Crystal of Sullivan, and sister, Jamie Golembiewski and husband, John of Maryland. Nick was also survived by several aunts and uncles as well as cousins, nieces, and nephews from Maine, New York, and Maryland who loved him dearly. Nick also has one surviving paternal grandfather, Clarence Hardwick of Ellsworth and was predeceased by his wife (grandmother) Margaret (Peggy) Hardwick; as well as maternal grandparents, Joseph and Elaine Henry.
In addition to working a career, he was very passionate about, Nick loved to travel, take adventures, and vacations. The travel bug got Nick right out of high school when he and his best friend Adam Walton traveled by car across Canada on a whim. Nick’s favorite vacation destinations were Myrtle Beach and Florida, but he also loved going on cruises, having gone to the Caribbean several times, as well as an Alaskan cruise for his and Jessica’s honeymoon. Aside from traveling, Nick enjoyed hiking and riding four-wheelers with his close friends. Nick was a hard worker but very much enjoyed his family time with his children and wife, taking countless vacations and adventures together through the years.
A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 24, 2023, at the Anah Shrine Center, 1404 Broadway, Bangor. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the officer’s fund at the Sheriff’s office in Nick’s memory. This is something that Nick worked closely with to support his brothers and sisters who would find themselves in need of help and to offer support to those less fortunate in the Bangor area around the holidays. Please make donations to the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office, 85 Hammond Street, Bangor, Maine 04401.
Nick graduated from MDI High School in 1997, and from Beal College (Criminal Justice Major, Magna Cum Laude) in 2000. Nick later attended the police academy, worked as a part-time officer for Bar Harbor PD, and started working at the Penobscot County Jail (in 2001). Nick worked as a part-time corrections officer, becoming full-time in 2002, Corporal in 2010, Sargent in 2018, Lieutenant in 2019, and finally, Jail Administrator/Captain in 2022. Nick also was a reserve officer for Southwest Harbor Police Department starting in 2012 till his passing. In 2011, Nick met the love of his life Jessica, and they married in May of 2015.
Surviving in addition to his wife, Jessica Hardwick, are his daughter, Kadance Hardwick of Glenburn, and son, Drew Hardwick of Tennessee (as well as Drew’s mother, Liz); his father, Nicholas Hardwick Sr of Winterport, his mother, Beth Gordon and stepfather, Rusty Gordon of Sullivan; brother, Ryan Hardwick of Bar Harbor, sister, Jillian Hardwick and partner, Drew Urquhart of Sullivan, brother, Ryan Gordon and wife, Crystal of Sullivan, and sister, Jamie Golembiewski and husband, John of Maryland. Nick was also survived by several aunts and uncles as well as cousins, nieces, and nephews from Maine, New York, and Maryland who loved him dearly. Nick also has one surviving paternal grandfather, Clarence Hardwick of Ellsworth and was predeceased by his wife (grandmother) Margaret (Peggy) Hardwick; as well as maternal grandparents, Joseph and Elaine Henry.
In addition to working a career, he was very passionate about, Nick loved to travel, take adventures, and vacations. The travel bug got Nick right out of high school when he and his best friend Adam Walton traveled by car across Canada on a whim. Nick’s favorite vacation destinations were Myrtle Beach and Florida, but he also loved going on cruises, having gone to the Caribbean several times, as well as an Alaskan cruise for his and Jessica’s honeymoon. Aside from traveling, Nick enjoyed hiking and riding four-wheelers with his close friends. Nick was a hard worker but very much enjoyed his family time with his children and wife, taking countless vacations and adventures together through the years.
A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 24, 2023, at the Anah Shrine Center, 1404 Broadway, Bangor. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the officer’s fund at the Sheriff’s office in Nick’s memory. This is something that Nick worked closely with to support his brothers and sisters who would find themselves in need of help and to offer support to those less fortunate in the Bangor area around the holidays. Please make donations to the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office, 85 Hammond Street, Bangor, Maine 04401.