Attorney: Obama not focus of Avondale wedding

President humbly serves as groomsman in wedding of attorney's daughter

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After keeping the secret for weeks beforehand, prominent local attorney Steve Pajcic opened up to News4Jax Tuesday about his daughter's wedding last weekend -- and the special guest in the wedding party.

Pajcic's daughter, Helen, was married Saturday to Marvin Nicholson, the White House travel director. The two met 10 years ago at a fundraiser Pajcic held at his home for then-presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Pajcic said the soon-to-be president made an impression at the fundraiser.

“He sang 'Happy birthday' to my wife from the stairs inside my house,” Pajcic said.

Years later, Obama made the trip to Jacksonville again to stand beside Nicholson during his wedding at that same Avondale home.

“He is really such a good person, a nice, good, real person, which we knew from the beginning, which is demonstrated by the fact that come hell or high water he was going to be at this wedding as a groomsman for his friend Marvin,” Pajcic said.

Secretary of State John Kerry officiated the wedding, which was an elaborate garden affair with 140 guests on one of coldest nights of the year.

Pajcic said it was special to have the president at the wedding, but that Obama did his best to avoid the spotlight.

“He wanted to make sure he wasn't stealing the thunder from Helen and Marvin,” Pajcic said.

The proud father thanked his neighbors for their patience with the inconvenience of the president's security measures.

The happy couple is forgoing a honeymoon for now, because Nicholson is working on the president's trip to Chicago, where he will deliver his final farewell speech.


About the Author:

Jim Piggott is the reporter to count on when it comes to city government and how it will affect the community.