About the Author
After earning a degree in aerospace engineering from West Virginia University, Nicholas Licausi enjoyed a remarkable career working for some of the most recognized companies in the world. He and his family moved from West Virginia to California, Texas, Japan, and Michigan, before finally settling in Florida. Prior to his retirement, his titles included engineer. programmer, manager, and executive. But his favorite roles were those of husband and father. “My proudest accomplishment is getting my wife to marry me.” Licausi said. “I miss her every day.” Licausi and his wife Natalie were married for 58 years before her death in 2022. The couple had two children- a son Nick and daughter Deanne. Tragically, Deanne passed away when she was only 30 years old. “Deanne was beautiful and very smart,” he said. “She gradu- ated from NSU and was moving up the ranks at Bell South Mobility. She ended up getting cervical cancer.” The family’s experience with Deanne’s illness and the healthcare system gave Licausi inspiration for his second career as an author. To date, Licausi has published three books. The Medical Project. a novel, presents a thrilling critique of the medical industry and explores how technology can be better used to prevent deaths like that of his daughter. In his second novel, The U.S. Leadership Program, the main characters tackle ambitious government projects with creative solutions. It is rated number 1 in its category on Amazon. His third and only nonfiction book, Self Help and Mental Health: Tough Path to Wellness, recently earned a “recommended” seal from the U.S. Review of Books. The story was coauthored with his son, who has been living with schizophrenia most of his adult life. The guide provides a firsthand account of the journey from remission to recovery from the perspective of both the mental
health patient and the family who loves him. “We wrote the book together,” Licausi said. “It was a good thing for us to do. When any person is mentally ill, it affects that person the most, but it also affects the whole family.” In addition to writing stories that inspire action, Licausi hopes to make the world a better place through the Licausi Family Fund at NSU’s Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences. His bequest will honor the memories of his daughter and his wife, both of whom graduated from NSU, and fund innovative solutions to improve the field of medicine. “NSU is always trying to figure out what you can do better,” he said. “This will be Natalie, Deanne, and I working together. Our donation will inspire someone to do something great and make a big difference. “Universities can do that. They have programmers, engineers, computers, and great people. One person can’t do that. But NSU can.” Licausi got his Aerospace Engineering Degree from West Virginia University and he will be donating funds to that University also.
