PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — Every day–with his safety vest–and his bright colored hat–Peter Nicholaus is out pounding the pavement.
“You can’t miss me,” laughed Nicholaus. “I talk to people, I wave to people.”
His path takes him along Blackstone Boulevard on the east side of Providence.
It all started when his daughter was in school.
“And we had a science project where we all got a picture of a black lung and we were all told this is what happens to your lungs if you smoke,” said his daughter, Dionne Montgomery.
That was more than 40 years ago when Nicholaus smoked.
“He used to send the kids to the corner store to get his cigarettes,” said Frances Nicholaus, his wife of 60 years.
Three packs a day he smoked.
“He was a heavy smoker, one in this hand, one in the that hand,” said Frances.
Montgomery brought her science project home so her dad could see it.
“When I saw it I said oh God,” said Nicholaus.
A week later, he quit. Cold turkey.
“I made a promise and I had to keep my promise,” said Nicholaus.
Then he started walking.
“Half an hour a day. No more than a half an hour and the next thing I know I just did a little bit more, a little bit more. I just kept on doing it,” said Nicholaus.
“Because he said when he was out here this was his stress release,” said Frances. “He said the people beeping horns and waving to me, people come out to me and say you’re my inspiration.”
Over the years, he’s become the sort of unofficial mayor of Blackstone Boulevard.
“I don’t know if I’m the Mayor but I just make believe I’m the mayor,” said Nicholaus.
“Everybody here knows me and they stop and they say you’re still doing it? Yes!”
For 43 years he’s been walking the boulevard.
“There’s a guy that went in to the war. he came home and he said you’re not that guy! I said I’m that guy,” said Nicholaus.
He’s hoping to serve as an inspiration. His message?
“Just do something. Half an hour a day that’s all and you’ll find out after you keep doing it you’ll want to d a little bit more.”
“He’s my hero,” said Montgomery.