Obituary for David Roy Nelson
David Roy Nelson, 82, of Wayland, MA, died on December 31, 2022, due to complications following quadruple bypass surgery.
David was born in Boston on July 5, 1940, to Harriet Sadler Nelson and Roy Hugo Nelson and was raised in Dorchester. A graduate of Boston Latin School, he appreciated the high level of his teachers’ scholarship and gained a life-long love of the classics. David attended college at Boston University, did graduate work in film, and received his Master’s degree from Boston University College of Communication in 1964.
David was a documentary filmmaker who was committed to his work as a director and editor for forty years at Education Development Center (EDC), formerly known as Educational Services Incorporated (ESI). He worked on groundbreaking TV series, PSAs, job training, and teacher training projects in the fields of science, social studies, mathematics, and current social issues, among them: “PSSC Physics,” “Man: A Course of Study,” “Infinity Factory,” “Library Power,” “Decisions Near the End of Life,” and “Project Burns Prevention.” These projects were designed to engage children, teens and adults with creative ways of problem solving. As a result of this work, David said he “knew just enough about a lot of things.”
David married his beloved Daryl Mark on Epiphany (January 6th) in 1991. They shared a deep appreciation, respect for, and enjoyment of each other’s creative work. David, a photographer, was the first reader of Daryl’s poetry and she was the first to view his photographs. Reading aloud to each other was a favorite activity. They loved exploring and gratefully received every opportunity to travel throughout the world (South Africa, United Kingdom, New Zealand) and the US. David introduced Daryl to Arizona and she introduced him to Iona.
In the early 1970’s, David wrote a column for Inside magazine, “the voice of Christians inside the city” and participated on the board of Clearlight, a Christian multi-media project. David became an Episcopalian at the Parish of the Messiah in Auburndale, where he was known for writing and praying the weekly “Prayers of the People.” He was active on the vestry and occasionally preached. In 2009, he worked with church members and friends to sell 1,000 mugs thrown and donated by potters at the Harvard Ceramics Program in memory of David’s good friend Marlene Nelson. The proceeds from the mugs were used to build the first indoor kitchen at a primary school for Zulu children. This fulfilled Marlene’s dream to respond to the needs of the children in Khethani Township, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. David’s connection to the Zulu community continues through Joan Reeve and the Mustard Seed Project, which funds urgent individual needs such as school fees and medicines. In 2014, Parish of the Messiah merged with Trinity Parish of Newton Centre, where David continued to be actively involved.
In retirement, David had time for his own work: photography and writing. On walks near home or when traveling, he always had a camera in his hand. He published a number of portfolio books of his photography and exhibited his work at shows at the Wayland Free Library. David wrote eighteen chapters of his (unfinished) murder mystery novel about a filmmaker who taught at a seminary. In 2020, David joined with friends to form a “Neighborhood Support Team” to help a family of eight from Afghanistan resettle in
Massachusetts.
In addition to his beloved wife Daryl, David leaves behind many treasured friends with whom he shared conversations, humor, travel, good meals, creative work, joys, sorrows, bad puns and lots of books! And, numerous puppets, including Chatty Cathy.
David was predeceased by his older brother Robert Nelson (late wife Marge) and leaves behind two dear nieces: Carol Anderson (late husband Jay) of Natick, MA and son Mark; and Barbara DiCicco of Northport, FL, and her children: Krista Rivera and Jill DiCicco (wife Julie); and her grandchildren: Devon Tarantino (husband Gaetano and their children) and Joseph DiCicco.
David was embraced by Daryl’s loving family and leaves behind Roger and Dorothy Mark of Westwood, MA; Beverly and David Kingston of Blacksburg, VA; and Roberta and Roland Zapp of Potomac, MD. “Uncle David Donald Duck” cherished his nine nieces and nephews and their spouses and children: Elizabeth and Marc Boatwright and children Thea (husband Andrew Van Os), Will, Katie and Emma; Bryan and Suzann Mark and children Nathan, Iris and Libby; David and Kristen Mark and children Hannah, Caleb and Toby; Robert and Rebecca (Evans) Mark and son Rowen; Joy and Timothy Hong and children Catriona, Maddie, and Mark; Christina and Philip Lenham and children Eoin, Nora Kate, and Caleb; Jonathan and Sarah (Stark) Kingston and daughter Keona; Alisa and “Woody” Machalek and sons Bryce and Keenan; and Jonathan and Kimberly Zapp and children MacKenzie and Brandon.
“For all that has been, Thanks. For all that is to be, Yes!”- Dag Hammarskjöld
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 28th at 11:00 am at Trinity Parish Newton Centre, followed by a reception. Masks will be provided for the service. The service will be available online. The link will be on the church’s website: www.trinitynewton.org.
Memorial gifts in his name may be made to the Society of St. John the Evangelist, SSJE, 980 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02138; Trinity Parish of Newton Centre (Mustard Seed Project written in memo line of check), 11 Homer St. Newton, MA 02459, or The Salvation Army of Massachusetts, P.O. Box 55876, Boston, MA 02205.
David was born in Boston on July 5, 1940, to Harriet Sadler Nelson and Roy Hugo Nelson and was raised in Dorchester. A graduate of Boston Latin School, he appreciated the high level of his teachers’ scholarship and gained a life-long love of the classics. David attended college at Boston University, did graduate work in film, and received his Master’s degree from Boston University College of Communication in 1964.
David was a documentary filmmaker who was committed to his work as a director and editor for forty years at Education Development Center (EDC), formerly known as Educational Services Incorporated (ESI). He worked on groundbreaking TV series, PSAs, job training, and teacher training projects in the fields of science, social studies, mathematics, and current social issues, among them: “PSSC Physics,” “Man: A Course of Study,” “Infinity Factory,” “Library Power,” “Decisions Near the End of Life,” and “Project Burns Prevention.” These projects were designed to engage children, teens and adults with creative ways of problem solving. As a result of this work, David said he “knew just enough about a lot of things.”
David married his beloved Daryl Mark on Epiphany (January 6th) in 1991. They shared a deep appreciation, respect for, and enjoyment of each other’s creative work. David, a photographer, was the first reader of Daryl’s poetry and she was the first to view his photographs. Reading aloud to each other was a favorite activity. They loved exploring and gratefully received every opportunity to travel throughout the world (South Africa, United Kingdom, New Zealand) and the US. David introduced Daryl to Arizona and she introduced him to Iona.
In the early 1970’s, David wrote a column for Inside magazine, “the voice of Christians inside the city” and participated on the board of Clearlight, a Christian multi-media project. David became an Episcopalian at the Parish of the Messiah in Auburndale, where he was known for writing and praying the weekly “Prayers of the People.” He was active on the vestry and occasionally preached. In 2009, he worked with church members and friends to sell 1,000 mugs thrown and donated by potters at the Harvard Ceramics Program in memory of David’s good friend Marlene Nelson. The proceeds from the mugs were used to build the first indoor kitchen at a primary school for Zulu children. This fulfilled Marlene’s dream to respond to the needs of the children in Khethani Township, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. David’s connection to the Zulu community continues through Joan Reeve and the Mustard Seed Project, which funds urgent individual needs such as school fees and medicines. In 2014, Parish of the Messiah merged with Trinity Parish of Newton Centre, where David continued to be actively involved.
In retirement, David had time for his own work: photography and writing. On walks near home or when traveling, he always had a camera in his hand. He published a number of portfolio books of his photography and exhibited his work at shows at the Wayland Free Library. David wrote eighteen chapters of his (unfinished) murder mystery novel about a filmmaker who taught at a seminary. In 2020, David joined with friends to form a “Neighborhood Support Team” to help a family of eight from Afghanistan resettle in
Massachusetts.
In addition to his beloved wife Daryl, David leaves behind many treasured friends with whom he shared conversations, humor, travel, good meals, creative work, joys, sorrows, bad puns and lots of books! And, numerous puppets, including Chatty Cathy.
David was predeceased by his older brother Robert Nelson (late wife Marge) and leaves behind two dear nieces: Carol Anderson (late husband Jay) of Natick, MA and son Mark; and Barbara DiCicco of Northport, FL, and her children: Krista Rivera and Jill DiCicco (wife Julie); and her grandchildren: Devon Tarantino (husband Gaetano and their children) and Joseph DiCicco.
David was embraced by Daryl’s loving family and leaves behind Roger and Dorothy Mark of Westwood, MA; Beverly and David Kingston of Blacksburg, VA; and Roberta and Roland Zapp of Potomac, MD. “Uncle David Donald Duck” cherished his nine nieces and nephews and their spouses and children: Elizabeth and Marc Boatwright and children Thea (husband Andrew Van Os), Will, Katie and Emma; Bryan and Suzann Mark and children Nathan, Iris and Libby; David and Kristen Mark and children Hannah, Caleb and Toby; Robert and Rebecca (Evans) Mark and son Rowen; Joy and Timothy Hong and children Catriona, Maddie, and Mark; Christina and Philip Lenham and children Eoin, Nora Kate, and Caleb; Jonathan and Sarah (Stark) Kingston and daughter Keona; Alisa and “Woody” Machalek and sons Bryce and Keenan; and Jonathan and Kimberly Zapp and children MacKenzie and Brandon.
“For all that has been, Thanks. For all that is to be, Yes!”- Dag Hammarskjöld
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 28th at 11:00 am at Trinity Parish Newton Centre, followed by a reception. Masks will be provided for the service. The service will be available online. The link will be on the church’s website: www.trinitynewton.org.
Memorial gifts in his name may be made to the Society of St. John the Evangelist, SSJE, 980 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02138; Trinity Parish of Newton Centre (Mustard Seed Project written in memo line of check), 11 Homer St. Newton, MA 02459, or The Salvation Army of Massachusetts, P.O. Box 55876, Boston, MA 02205.