Shine On, Nick: A Legacy of Love, Music, and Signs That Endure
By Together At Peace | Amber Zei, Guest Contributor
Some love stories do not end. They simply change form.
For Amber Zei, the love of her father Nick continues to shine through music, memory, and unmistakable signs that remind her family they are never alone. Nick passed just one week shy of his birthday on June 21, 2024, leaving behind a legacy built on devotion, laughter, and a deep love for family that still guides them today.
A Love That Showed Up in Everyday Moments
Nick had a way of loving loudly and fully. His laugh was unforgettable, a wheezy, breathless laugh that took over the room and made everyone else laugh along with him. It was the sound of joy without restraint.
He was also the kind of father who showed up big. Whenever Amber, her brother, or their children discovered a new hobby, Nick did not just support it, he invested in it. He researched, purchased the best tools or equipment, and delighted in watching the people he loved do what brought them happiness.
And at the heart of it all was his love for Amber’s mom. High school sweethearts who were married for fifty years, Nick never stopped telling her how beautiful she was or how much he loved her. It was a love that set the standard for the entire family.
Music as a Language of Connection
Music was one of the ways Nick connected most deeply with those he loved, especially Pink Floyd. One of Amber’s most cherished memories is what Nick said to her after her first Facebook post following her divorce. His message was simple, meaningful, and perfectly him:
“Shine on, you crazy diamond.”
Today, music remains a bridge between past and present. Amber and her family take their children to Brit Floyd concerts, attend shows at the theater where Nick once worked as a young usher, and continue to let music carry his presence forward. In these moments, connection feels effortless.
Heavenly Birthdays and Meaningful Rituals
Nick’s first birthday in heaven fell on the day of his visitation. In a moment filled with tenderness, the family placed a balloon inside his casket, sending love with him in a way that felt right.
On his second heavenly birthday, they gathered for fireworks at the boat launch where Nick and his wife once kept their boat. It was a place filled with shared joy, laughter, and summer nights together. Returning there felt like honoring not just his life, but the life they lived together.
On the anniversary of his passing, the family visited his gravesite, prayed together, and shared a quiet moment of remembrance. Amber’s son brought a White Claw, one of Nick’s favorites, and raised it in a simple cheers. Love, after all, often lives in the smallest details.
Signs That Love Still Speaks
From the very beginning, Nick made his presence known.
The morning he passed, as the family was leaving the emergency room, Amber noticed a message on the nurses appreciation board that read, “Shine like a diamond.” The timing felt impossible to ignore.
Since then, the number 37 has appeared again and again, a number tied to a long standing family joke and one deeply associated with Nick. It has shown up on catered food orders, delivery docks during business trips, and even as a casino voucher worth exactly 37 cents handed to Amber’s brother by a stranger in Las Vegas.
Each appearance feels like a gentle reminder. A nudge. A smile from beyond.
Carrying His Love Forward
Nick’s love continues to inspire Amber in the simplest and most powerful way. By loving the way he loved. By enjoying life fully. By soaking in the moments that matter with the people who matter most.
His legacy is not just found in memory, but in action. In laughter shared. In music played loud. In love expressed openly and often.
As Amber reflects, Nick’s light did not dim. It shifted. And it continues to shine.
At Together At Peace, we believe stories like Nick’s remind us that love never leaves us. It finds new ways to speak, to guide, and to reassure us that we are always connected.
If you have experienced signs, memories, or moments of peace from a loved one who has passed, we invite you to share your story. Your light may be exactly what someone else needs to see.
