Defiance, OH - Frederick Nicola "Nick" Gigliotti passed away peacefully at home in Ohio on May 28, 2026, at the age of 88, just weeks shy of his 89th birthday.

Nick was born on June 18, 1937, in Bedford, Ohio, to Frank and Madeline Gigliotti. He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved granddaughter, Dahlia Siders.

Known as Nick to family and friends, he lived a life defined by hard work, adventure, and deep devotion to his family.

A proud veteran, Nick served in the United States Army. After his military service, he built a life that reflected his wide range of talents and interests.

An entrepreneur at heart, Nick owned and operated his own upholstery business, designing and fabricating custom furniture that was used on television and movie sets and shipped internationally. His shop was truly a family operation, where all of his children—and many of their friends—worked alongside him and learned from him.

Nick's life also took him into film and television in the 1960s, where he worked on productions in Florida and performed stunt work. His credits included work associated with Flipper, Gentle Ben, Thunderball, Hour of the Gun, and Lady in Cement. He also trained with the Detroit Lions football team in preparation for work on the film Paper Lion. Nick also performed stunts at Pioneer City in Ocala, Florida, and later operated his own stunt crew and performed in stunt shows, bringing his fearless energy and creativity to audiences throughout the region.

He was also an accomplished pilot, learning to fly small aircraft, and embraced anything that involved skill, precision, and adventure.

An elite competitor, Nick was a two-time Western Fast Draw World Champion and set a world record in the sport during the 1960s. He also raced professionally on the Husqvarna motocross team and served as a sparring and training partner for light heavyweight boxing champion Willie Pastrano.

Nick shared his love of sports and competition by coaching youth athletics, including serving as head coach of the Pendleton Junior Football League Bears, leading them to championship seasons in 1991 and 1992. He also coached youth baseball and valued helping young athletes build confidence and discipline.

Nick enjoyed bowling with his wife, Pat, playing golf, and spending time at the shooting range with his children and grandchildren. His favorite times were spent dancing with Pat. He never met a stranger and was known for his gravelly voice, larger-than-life stories, and ability to connect with anyone he met.

He also had a deep love for animals, especially his Doberman Pinschers and his cat, Puzzi.

Nick is survived by his devoted wife, Pat Gigliotti; his sister, Gloria Christman; his children, Nicholette Jackson, Tricia E. (Scott), William Gigliotti, Stephanie Carrico (Bryce), Antonio "Tony" Gigliotti, Angelina Siders (Nate), and Delphina Branham (Daniel); his grandchildren, Taylor Cravens (Chase Cravens), Hunter Branham, Gavin Carrico, Hayden Carrico, Emma Branham, Sophia Siders, and Rowan Branham; and his great-granddaughter, Frankie Cravens.

Nick will be remembered as a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, coach, veteran, entrepreneur, competitor, and friend. Above all, he will be remembered for his love of family, his stories, and the full and adventurous life he lived. To his family, Nick was larger than life—defined not by titles, but by presence, love, and stories that will be told for generations.

We invite all who cherished Nick to join us in a Celebration of Life Service on Saturday June 20th, 2026 from 4pm to 7pm at Amvets Post #26 939 S. Broadway St, Pendleton, IN 46064. For those moved to honor Nick's memory we would appreciate donations to Indiana Youth Rugby Foundation, to create a lasting legacy of the love he shared for getting more kids on the rugby field. https://www.gofundme.com/f/carrying-nick-gigliottis-legacy-forward-through-youth-rugby