Carl Anders Nicholls passed away peacefully on September 2, 2026. He was a cherished husband, father, grandfather, and friend to so many.

Carl was born on July 11, 1946 to Charlotte and Carl W. Nicholls and grew up in California’s Bay Area. He graduated from St. Francis High School in Mountain View, California in 1963 and from Occidental College in 1967. In 1972, he earned his Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California, and began a lifelong career dedicated to helping others.

Carl began his career counseling children and adults in Los Angeles before returning to the Bay Area. In San Francisco, he worked at the Homewood Terrace, Jewish Family and Children’s Services and Mount Zion Hospital. In 1979, he opened Counseling and Consultation Services in Oakland. After moving to Austin, Texas, in 1991, he worked at the Capital Area Mental Health Center and later established Carl A. Nicholls and Associates.

Carl met Molly in California, and together they built a beautiful life spanning more than 40 years. They shared a deep commitment to helping others and a mutual interest in psychology, which became an important part of both their work and their life together.

Carl devoted himself to his family and to the communities he called home. Through his professional work and volunteer service, he helped hundreds of people over the course of his life. His love, compassion, and generosity extended not only to those he knew, but also to complete strangers. He had a rare gift for making people feel seen, heard, and valued—whether he was speaking with them in person, on the phone, or through his extraordinary handwritten letters.

Carl had a profound appreciation for the written word and could often be found with a newspaper or book tucked under his arm. He loved playing and watching sports, shooting pool, and seeking out live music, especially jazz and blues.

Carl was happiest when he was helping others. He cared deeply about people, particularly those who had been overlooked by society. For more than 15 years, he and Molly volunteered with Mobile Loaves and Fishes and Community First! Village in Austin, helping people experiencing poverty and homelessness. Together, they delivered food, clothing, comfort, and dignity to those most in need. They also helped three individuals transition from life on the streets into homes at Community First! Village—a testament to Carl’s belief in the value and potential of every person.

For all the good Carl accomplished throughout his life, nothing brought him greater joy than his four daughters: Lourdes, Alyssa, Andrea, and Christina. He loved being their dad and took enormous pride in each of them. He also treasured being Papa to his grandchildren, playing ball with them, taking them on bike rides, and inviting them to share in his love of serving others.

Carl is survived by his wife, Molly Nicholls, his daughters Lourdes Nicholls (Andy Kaczkowski), Alyssa Payongayong (Leo), Andrea Nicholls (David Kopp), Christina Fox (Austin), and grandchildren Mariko, Vaughan, Cyrus, Andres “Miggy”, Aliya, Isaiah, and Susannah. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl W. and Charlotte Nicholls.

Since Carl’s passing, the family has been deeply moved by the many condolences, memories and stories that have been shared. We appreciate each and every one of them as a reminder of how widely his kindness reached.

There are many ways to honor Carl and carry his generous spirit forward. If you feel so inclined, Carl/Dad/Papa would be overjoyed by donations made in his honor to one of two organizations that have played a very important role in his life:

• Active Generations in Sioux Falls, played a significant role in his last two years of life in South Dakota. He attended their Daybreak program five days a week, where they provided him with social activities, connection, companionship and support until the end of his life. The staff cared for him with extraordinary compassion, patience and kindness. Our family is forever grateful for their support, dedication, and love for Carl.

• Donate to Active Generations here
• Or donate by mail: Active Generations, 2300 W. 46th Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57105

• Community First! Village is an innovative housing program for individuals experiencing homelessness, administered by Mobile Loaves and Fishes in Austin, TX. As mentioned above, Carl was deeply involved in the organization, volunteering a significant portion of his time and his expertise as a social worker to help the least fortunate. He loved this work, and even befriended a few men who were living on the streets and helped them apply and transition to a home in the Community First! Village. Supporting this organization is a meaningful way to honor Carl’s commitment to compassion, dignity and helping others find a place to call home.

• Donate in Carl’s name directly online Mobile Loves and Fishes here
• Or donate by mail: Mobile Loaves & Fishes, 9301 Hog Eye Road Suite 950, Austin, TX 78724