Nicholas Anthony Crane, Jr. ("Nicky," "Nick"), 69, of Las Vegas, Nevada, passed away at home

on February 4, 2026. He was born in Avon Park, Florida, the son of the late Della Crane and Nicholas A. Crane, Sr.

From an early age, Nick distinguished himself as an exceptional student, regularly earning straight A's. He attended Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in Miami, where he graduated in the top 5 percent of his class.

Though accepted to several universities, Nick chose to attend the University of Miami, continuing a family tradition. His father graduated from Miami years earlier, and his sister Lisa would follow a few years later. Nick graduated cum laude with degrees in economics and computer science, a combination that served him well throughout his professional life.

He began his career in his father's heavy construction equipment business, Neff Machinery. Working alongside his father, Nick helped expand the company through satellite branches in Orlando, West Palm Beach, and Fort Myers, contributing to the respected reputation the business earned in the industry.

After his father's retirement, Nick opened Nucrane Machinery in Las Vegas, specializing in the retail sales of John Deere golf and turf maintenance equipment. During those years, he built not only a business, but also many lasting friendships, and he was widely respected by those who

knew and worked with him.

For all of his accomplishments, Nick will be remembered most for the man he was: exceptionally intelligent, thoughtful, funny, and kind. He had a remarkable command of language, and a dry, understated wit that often caught people by surprise. Though introverted by nature, he chose his words carefully, and when he spoke, his humor and insight revealed the sharpness of his mind.

Nick was a devoted football fan who followed the Las Vegas Raiders and the Miami Hurricanes with passion and loyalty. He held Raiders season tickets for more than 30 years. He also had a lifelong love of cars and a deep appreciation for music, especially the sounds of the 1960s and 1970s. As an avid Grateful Dead fan, he found in music a lasting source of joy and connection.

As a young man, Nick enjoyed yachting with his family along the Eastern Seaboard, through the Bahamas, and in the Florida Keys. He spoke of those adventures often and shared them vividly with friends. Those memories reflected his love of freedom, discovery, and time spent on the water with the people he loved.

Nick loved his father deeply and often shared affectionate stories about him and the childhood memories he treasured. In those stories, one could glimpse the warmth, humor, and deep family ties that helped shape him.

What defined Nick most was his quiet attentiveness to others. He expressed affection through small, meaningful gifts and gestures that spoke volumes. He noticed what mattered, remembered details, and made people feel seen and valued.

Nick will be deeply missed and fondly remembered for his intelligence, compassion, humor, and the distinctive way he moved through the world.

He is survived, and lovingly missed by his sister, Lisa Crane of Raleigh, North Carolina; his niece, Rachel Reyes of Durham, North Carolina; his cousins, Joseph Crane of Pompano Beach, Florida, Diana Bastian (Gary) of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Lenny Stratton (Melody) of Fort Myers, Florida; as well as many dear friends across the country who hold him in their hearts.

Nick was predeceased by his mother, Della Crane, on April 4, 1998; his father, Nicholas A. Crane, Sr., on September 30, 2013; his uncle, Juliano Crane, on January 14, 2009; and his aunt, Marian Stabler, on October 22, 2022.

No formal service will be held. In lieu of a gathering, Nick is being remembered privately by family and friends through a commemorative video tribute created in his honor.