Greg Nelson

Greg Nelson passed away peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, August 29, 2024, at his home in Rose Haven, Maryland. He was 84 years old. 

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Shirley (Kivlin) Nelson; son Chad (Dawn) Nelson; daughters Tracy Thorne and Keri (Chris) Gregoire; nephew Michael Mahoney; grandchildren Alexandra, Connor, Kasey, Ryan, Drew, Luke, and Ray; along with many close friends. Greg is the son of Thomas Nelson and Mary Jane Manley, who, along with Greg’s sister Gail, preceded him in death.

Greg was born in Youngstown, Ohio and later moved to Tucson, Arizona where he and Shirley became high school sweethearts. After they married and he graduated from the University of Arizona, he served his country with distinction in Vietnam as a member of the U.S. Army Signal Corps. Once home, Greg earned a master’s degree from Stanford and eventually settled in Clinton, Maryland where he and Shirley raised their family. After he retired as a decorated Lieutenant Colonel, he served as a civilian in the Pentagon, where he evaluated the merits of billion-dollar defense programs.

Work was important to Greg, but nothing mattered more to him than Shirley and his children. He never missed important events like ball games and dance recitals, actions which showed his love for them. Outside of family and work, his most important contributions were to his community, particularly the work he did at St. John’s the Evangelist Church. There, he and Shirley led youth programs, marriage retreats, and church initiations, and while doing so helped shape the lives of many people.

Greg had several passions. He was an avid sailor, and on summer days could be spotted piloting his Catalina 22 on either the Chesapeake Bay or Potomac River. During colder weather, he rooted for his beloved Arizona Wildcats basketball team. Other interests included woodworking, especially crafting toys for his grandkids, and swimming, where he won 5 gold medals in the Senior Olympics.

While Greg often displayed a gruff exterior, one would be hard pressed to find a bigger teddy bear. He will be dearly missed.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Association to help Shirley and others fight this dreadful disease.

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