Mark E. Nelson

Mark E. Nelson, 81, of Simsbury, CT and East Dennis, MA passed away on Saturday, March 18, 2017 after a brief struggle with metastatic melanoma. He was born in 1935 and spent his childhood in Maynard and Stow, MA. He served in the US Army in Europe where he was a standout pitcher for the Army baseball team. He graduated from UMass Amherst in 1960 and was president of his fraternity, Phi Sigma Kappa. He met his beloved late wife, Judy, at UMass and they were married in 1961. He began his career at Wallace Murray Corp. and in 1972 founded a successful business, Apostle-Nelson, followed by a second, Alpha Carbide. He was a gifted salesman who earned the loyalty of his employees, all of whom he considered family. Mark, Judy and their four daughters spent many summers on Cape Cod, building a family home in East Dennis, where the family continues to gather each summer. Mark was a passionate Red Sox fan (rooting them on to three world series), an avid hunter and fisherman, a hockey coach and player, and life-long golfer. He also never missed his daughters' field hockey, basketball, and softball games. He served for many years on the Board of Directors of McClean, a leading eldercare provider in Simsbury, and was an active alumnus of UMass, where he led the fundraising effort for his class reunion. He will be remembered by his family and many dear friends as a man of great loyalty, integrity, and compassion. He leaves behind his daughters, Deborah Nelson of Chicago IL, Linda Siemering of Atkinson NH, Jennifer Nelson of West Roxbury MA, and Amy Dansreau of Hingham MA; his grandchildren Jake, Hayley and Drew Siemering, Abby and Sarah Dansreau, and Theo and Nika Nelson; and his daughters' partners, Adrienne Hiegel, Bruce Siemering, and Steven Dansreau. He also leaves behind his companion of ten years, Pamela Lupinacci. A celebration of life will take place at a later date in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to McLean Development, 75 Great Pond Road, Simsbury, CT 06070.