San Bernardino Shooting Victim Had Ties to South Jersey

NEW JERSEY (WTXF) Grief and heartbreak hit close to home following the mass murders of 14 people in San Bernardino, California. Annette Thalasinos's ex-husband Nick was among the dead. The couple has two sons together ,ages 24 and 26, that live in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Annette tells FOX 29 that both sons are obviously grieving.

"You don't expect to go to bed and wake up to find that your father is gone especially under such tragic circumstances," she explained.

Nicholas Thalasinos lived and worked in Cape May County, New Jersey, from 1988 until early 2002 as an environmental health inspector.

"We always remember Nick as someone who was dedicated to public service - we met in the ambulance service and worked together," Annette says.

He worked hard to keep the public safe, according to Nick's former boss Cape May County Freeholder director Jerry Thornton.

"I remember him distinctly because he was such a stickler for a laws and regulations people used to say this guy is tough." Jerry says.

Thalisinos' current wife, Jennifer, told the LA Times that her husband worked with the alleged shooter Syed Rizwan Farook at the San Bernardino County Health Department's Environmental Services Division. She said as far as she knew, the two got along. She added that her husband had strong religious views but never indicated having any sort of personal conflict with Farook.

As news of Nick's death spread, many friends took to his Facebook page to express their condolences, as well as his family who are 3,000 miles away.

"My oldest son James and youngest son Jacob and I are all heartbroken for Jennifer and the entire community in Colton San Bernardino county area." Jennifer said.