Nickolas Lowell Harm
April 28, 1950 – May 18, 2020
Nickolas L. Harm was born on April 28th, 1950 in North Platte, Nebraska to Robert L. Harm and Adaline Mann Shabram. He passed suddenly on Monday, May 18th, 2020. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in October of 1970. He was honorably discharged in April of 1972.
In August of 1972, he married Mimi Roxanne Whitehead in Cozad Nebraska. After his time in the army, he attended the University of Nebraska where he received his BA in Architecture in 1976. He went on to get his Masters of Architecture in 1978. He was a licensed architect in both Nebraska and Oklahoma. He worked as an architect for HDR in Omaha, Nebraska from 1978-1981. In 1981 he moved to Oklahoma to begin his career as a professor in the College of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma. During his career at the University of Oklahoma he was an associate professor, was tenured and served as director and interim dean. He retired as professor emeritus in 2016.
During his time as a professor, he took leave from 1984-1989 to teach at the King Fahad University of Petroleum Minerals in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. His family took this time to also travel to several countries around the world.
After returning to Norman, he became interested in Norman Public Schools and served for five years on the school board from 1990-1995.
He is survived by his wife, Mimi; son, Nickolas R. Harm; daughter, Margaret (Megn) Sparkman and husband Joseph (Joey); three grandchildren, Nora Mier-Person, Gray and Boyd Sparkman; sister, Cordelia Aden and husband Tim; sister, Mala DeBerg; brother in law, Steve Whitehead; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Nick had many friends and acquaintances that he met through his career, travel and many hobbies. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He enjoyed spending time with his family more than anything. He saw the potential in everything and everyone and always thought outside the box. He will be greatly missed.
A memorial will be planned for a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Gibbs College of Architecture travel study fund. To make a gift online, go to the link below.
Sooner Connect - OU Foundation Giving – Make a Gift
To make a gift by mail, please make checks out to the University of Oklahoma Foundation and include “42829 Nick Harm Memorial” in the memo line. Please mail checks to: University of Oklahoma Foundation, PO Box 258856, Oklahoma City, OK 73125.
To offer online condolences, please visit the link below.
Nickolas Lowell Harm Obituary May 18, 2020 - Tribute Memorial Care
Share your favorite memories of Nick
Gibbs College of Architecture faculty Dave Boeck and Marjorie Callahan are collecting stories and memories from Nick’s former colleagues, friends and students to share with his family. To contribute a story, please contact dlb@ou.edu or mcallahan@ou.edu.
Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to recognize Petya Stefanoff, who is pursuing her doctorate in the Planning, Design & Construction (PDC) program, has been appointed the new role of Director of Community Development for the City of Shawnee, Oklahoma. She joined the city in 2024.
Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Amber N. Wiley, Ph.D., associate professor in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design and director of the Institute for Quality Communities, has received national recognition for her book Model Schools in the Model City. The book has been named a finalist for the 2026 the PROSE Awards.
Gibbs College of Architecture Regional + City Planning Professor of Practice Vanessa Morrison and Associate Professor of Architecture Deborah Richards’ Open Design Collective received top honors at the inaugural BlackSpace Urbanist Collective Studio KIN Pitch Night Competition, held last month in Brooklyn, New York City.
