Remembering Nick Rucker — Sending love to his Family and Friends.

Tribute from Angela Parkerson:

Nick is a son, brother, friend, and the best Uncle Nick ever! He loves snow, cold weather hiking, playing guitar, hiking, skateboarding, rollerblading, camping, and connecting deeply, sharing, and debating all topics especially the ones society deems “bad”. He is a huge goofball and he absolutely loves jokes and making people laugh. Nick absolutely loves music and taught himself to play guitar as a child by watching YouTube videos, he could also play drums, piano, saxophone, and trombone. He loved all kinds of music from the screamo darkest parts of life to the most loving and sensitive heartfelt ballads. He loves to spend time with people in nature. He always shows up for everyone, makes you feel seen and heard, is incredibly empathic, compassionate, and unconditionally loving. He shows up for everyone no matter who the world may judge them to be. He is my son, my hero, my guiding light, and I will carry on his mission to love and accept everyone exactly as they are and make sure they know they are Never Alone. The main things I want people to remember about Nick is his HEART. He had a gift of seeing things others couldn’t see and he always wanted the best for others and was always there for everyone day or night. The others are his love of laughter and his deep connection and appreciation of nature. I created the Nonprofit The Never Alone Nick Rucker Foundation, Inc. after a tattoo design Nick had created because Nick often struggled internally with feeling alone and I found so many people that can identify with this feeling and wanted to create a safe space for people to share their loved ones, experiences , feelings of grief, sadness and depression and fight the silence and stigma that lead to my son Nicks death. One counterfeit pill can destroy a persons mental health and kill them before they realize what is happening to them. One half a pill took Nicks life and he never saw it coming or had a chance to recover so I make it my mission to talk about it and spread awareness in hopes of sparing the next “Nick” from this horrible outcome. The Never Alone Nick Rucker Foundation is a fully nonprofit advocacy group and our mission is to warn the public against the imminent dangers of fentanyl, to end stigma and shame, and to work to change laws related to drug induced homicide. I also had April 23 turned into National Take a Hike With Nick Day to honor his memory, his passion, his love of nature and helping others, and his own battle with mental health. Our children are struggling with mental health, anxiety, depression, and SUD at an ALARMING RATE today and WE HAVE to make their world a safer better place. Please consider taking a hike with Nick and let us know by using #TakeHikeNick #NeverAloneNick I love you Nick far far away all the way to New Haven Love you Until we meet again I will be here finishing your mission. 🖤Buffalo💜 Your life MATTERS Nicholas “Nick” Andrew Rucker 05/03/1996-04/23/21