Obituary of Nicole Hope Tanger Broderick

Nicole Hope Tanger Broderick died of complications related to early onset Alzheimer’s disease on August 21, 2024; she was 56 years old. Nicole was born on August 19, 1968 in San Francisco, California. She spent the early part of her life there, but eventually moved to Wisconsin, Nebraska, and then to Rumson, NJ following her parents divorce. She and her sister Delia Tanger Sheehan lived with their mother Marguerite, (Shepard) Tanger. The girls were resilient and loved. In 1978 Marguerite, or Penny, as she was known to friends and family, married Russ Dieffenbach. The girls and Penny moved in with Russ, aka “Poppy” along with his three children Laura, Russ and Jim. Poppy was larger than life. Nic loved him dearly and he loved her back. Nic eventually went on to graduate from Rumson Fair Haven high school but not before enjoying many summers at the Jersey Shore and Peninsula House Beach Club. Nic was beautiful, kind and graceful and known for her welcoming smile and loving nature. She had many friends from Rumson and neighboring towns who remained in her life through adulthood. Nicole moved to Lake Placid, NY in 1991 after graduating from Northeastern University in Boston. Living in Lake Placid during the early 1990s post-college years was a twenty-something’s utopia. Nicole and her huge group of like-minded friends lived communally in the eclectic rustic houses on the Lake Placid Club property. They worked late evenings and socialized even later. This lifestyle gave Nic all day long to ski in the winter, rock climb, or just hang out at “Poor Man's Beach” swimming and sunning all day in the summer, and making time to catch some Dead shows throughout the Northeast. In the mid 90s Nicole and her then “Bad Boy Boyfriend” decided to move to Mammoth Lakes, California. However, they only made it as far as Cascade Pass when their Mitsubishi Trooper was involved in a car accident. Nicole took this as a sign to stay in Lake Placid and let him follow his own dream to California. Had she not, she may have never met the love of her life Thomas “Brody” Broderick, had their two beautiful daughters, and lived their magical life in Lake Placid. Nicole was a professional server and bartender - Adirondack Steak and Seafood, The Artist’s Cafe, The Laughing Loon, The Woodshed and The Cottage. Patrons loved her for her cool demeanor and authenticity. She brought grace and style to every establishment where she worked and in everything she did. In 1999 Nicole became the restaurant manager of Northern Exposure at the Northwood’s Inn on Main Street Lake Placid. A twist of fate brought Brody and Nic together. His brother Kevin began working for Nicole and Brody joined soon after. By the end of summer they were dating. January of 2000 began a busy year for Nicole. She was hired by ESPN to help organize the athletes for the Inaugural Great Outdoor Games. Brody later proposed to Nic and they decided to elope. In the age of dial up Nicole managed to secure the wedding hall, hired the photographer, and arranged the justice of the peace. They were married on April 8th with 25 family members in attendance. Finally, in November the couple welcomed their daughter Morgan Hope Broderick. Nic continued to work full time with the Great Outdoor Games as well as a few trips for the ESPN X-Games. In May of 2004 Brody and Nic welcomed their second daughter Katherine Brooke Broderick. The Great Outdoor Games asked Nicole to move with them to their new operational home in Reno, Nevada, but she declined and began the most important job of her life: raising her daughters. Nicole was a wonderful mother. Nic’s girls were always impeccably dressed, and they acquired her most wonderful trait - kindness. Nic encouraged the girls to explore the large campus of Northwood School. They built fairy houses and romped free-range on the fields and woods surrounding the school. When the girls began doing summer theater she made the most wonderful costumes, carrying those skills into Halloween and for Morgan’s figure skating competitions. On the weekends she took her girls to Whiteface and taught them how to ski. She also shared her love of baking with her daughters. Her impacts on the girls and those around her cannot simply be recounted here, but those that knew Nicole know she was happiest watching her girls dance, ski, swim, sing, and live their lives. Nicole’s eloquence and style were admired by men and women alike but never imitated. She did not overindulge in fashion but was an exquisitely fashionable minimalist. She is loyal. She is genuine. She is loving. Nicole is a true friend. Nicole is survived by her husband “Brody”, her daughters Morgan and Kate, her mother Penny Dieffenbach, sister Delia and her boys Tommy and Jack Sheehan, her half sister Marty Quinn and her sons Jason and Brandon and daughter Zoe and her family, countless aunts and uncles, cousins, step siblings and numerous friends. A private service will be held at the M.B. Clark Funeral Home 2310 Saranac Ave. Lake Placid, NY 12946 on Sunday August 25, 2024 at 11:00 AM. A celebration of Nicole’s life will take place October 19th, 2024 at 1:00 PM at Lisa G’s in Lake Placid. Please come dressed in Nicole’s favorite attire: a nice black shirt with jeans. Donations in honor of Nicole may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation or High Peak’s Hospice. The M. B. Clark, Inc., Funeral Home in Lake Placid is in charge of arrangements. Please visit www.mbclarkfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest book, share a memory, upload a photograph or leave condolences for the Broderick family.