Ronald Patrick Capps

Birth Name: Ronald Patrick Capps
Name preference:
Born: (?)
Parents: (?)
Siblings:
Grade school: (?)
High School: (?)
College: (?)
Military Service: (?)
Married: Kristina Nelson Capps
Children: Riley Michael Capps Adopted December 2006, Flint, Michigan

Ronnie,

Need whatever you choose to shareabout your family history in addition to your own. Also need for you to fill in the blanks on your bio. Email me at enelson48@cfl.rr.com.

Riley Michael Capps

Birth Name: Riley Michael Capps
Name preference:
Born: December 8, 2006, Flint, Michigan
Birth Parents: (?)
Adopted Parents: Ronald Patrick Capps, Kristina Nelson Capps
Siblings: (?)
Grade school: TBD
High School: TBD
College: TBD
Military Service: TBD
Married: TBD
Children: TBD

Ronnie, Kris,

This is the place to share Reilly's story.

Ava Rae Nelson

Birth Name: Ava Rae Nelson
Name preference:
Born: May 9, 2006, Charlotte, NC
Parents: Daniel Byrne Nelson, Amy Midaj Nelson
Siblings: Daniel Byrne Nelson, Jr.
Grade school: TBD
High School: TBD
College: TBD
Military Service: TBD
Married: TBD
Children: TBD

Amy, Dan,

Share whaever you desire of Ava's young life thus far.

Daniel Byrne Nelson, Jr.

Birth Name: Daniel Byrne Nelson, Jr.
Name preference:
Born: February 25, 1998, Northeast Medical, Concord, NC
Parents: Daniel Byrne Nelson, Tina Vannoy
Siblings: Ava Rae Nelson
Grade school: Shive Elementary School, Rockwell, NC
High School: TBD
College: TBD
Military Service: TBD
Married: TBD
Children: TBD

Daniel,

Need whatever you desire to share of your life here.

Ryan Christopher Nelson

Birth Name: Ryan Christopher Nelson
Name preference:
Born: August 19, 1997, Winston-Salem NC
Parents: Kenneth Bruce Nelson, Jr., Bobby Jo Buck Nelson
Siblings:
Grade school: Middleburgh Central, Middleburgh, NY
High School: TBD
College: TBD
Military Service: TBD
Married: TBD
Children: TBD

Ryan,

Would you care to share your bio with the rest of your very large extended family? Here's the place to do it.

Kristina Nelson Capps

Birth Name: Kristina Ann Nelson
Name preference: Kris
Born: February 7, 1971, St. Anthony's Hospital, Warwick, NY
Parents: Kenneth Bruce Nelson, Darby Decker Nelson
Siblings: Kenneth Bruce Nelson, Jr., Daniel Byrne Nelson
Grade school: Marshall Hill Elementary School, West Milford, NJ,
Middle School: West Milford Middle School, West Milford, NJ
High School: West Milford HS, West Milford, NJ, 1985-1989
College: LIU, Long Island, NY, 1990; SUNY Oneonta, NY, NC Community (?) Dallas, NC, (Vet Tech)
Military Service: None
Married: Ronald Patrick Capps
Children: Riley Michael Capps Adopted, December 8, 2006, Flint, Michigan

Kristina,

Need whatever you choose to write about yourself. Also need for you to fill in the blanks on your bio. Email me at enelson48@cfl.rr.com.

Daniel Byrne Nelson

Birth Name: Daniel Byrne Nelson
Name preference:
Born: June 5, 1977, St. Anthony's Hospital, Warwick, NY
Parents: Kenneth Bruce Nelson, Darby Decker Nelson
Siblings: Kenneth Bruce Nelson, Jr., Kristina Nelson Capps
Grade school: Marshall Elementary, West Milford, NJ; Richmondville Central, Richmondville, NY
High School: Richmondville Central, Richmondville, NY
College: None
Military Service: None
Married: Tina Vannoy, (Divorced when?) Amy Slizek Nelson (When and where?)
Children: Daniel Byrne Nelson, Ava Rae Nelson

Danny,

Need whatever you choose to write about yourself. Also need for you to fill in the blanks on your bio. Email me at enelson48@cfl.rr.com.

Kenneth Bruce Nelson, Jr.

Birth Name: Kenneth Bruce Nelson, Jr.
Name preference:
Born: May 5, 1968, St. Anthony's Hospital, Warwick, NY
Parents: Kenneth Bruce Nelson, Darby Decker Nelson
Siblings: Daniel Byrne Nelson, Kristina Nelson Capps
Grade school: Marshall Elementary, WestMilford, NJ
Middle School: West Milford, Middle, West Milford, NJ
High School: West Milford High School, West Milford, NJ
College: None
Military Service: None
Married: Bobby Jo Buck, (When and where?)
Children: Ryan Christopher Nelson

Kenny,

Need whatever you choose to write about yourself. Also need for you to fill in the blanks on your bio. Email me at enelson48@cfl.rr.com.

Darby Decker Nelson

Birth Name: Frances Christine Decker
Name preference: Darby
Born: (?)
Parents: (?)
Siblings: (?)
Grade school: (?)
High School: (?)
College: (?)
Military Service: (?)
Married: Kenneth Bruce Nelson (When and where?)
Children: Kenneth Bruce Nelson, Jr., Kristina Nelson Capps, Daniel Byrne Nelson

Darby,

Need whatever you choose to write about the Decker family history. Also need for you to fill in the blanks on your bio. Email me at enelson48@cfl.rr.com.

Caryn Nelson (?)

Birth Name: Caryn (?) Nelson
Name preference:
Born: (?)
Parents: Robert Allen Nelson, Linda Bell Nelson
Siblings: Robert (?) Nelson, John (?) Nelson, Kristen Nelson (?)
Grade school: (?)
High School: (?)
College: (?)
Military Service: (?)
Married: (?) (When and where?)
Children: (?)

Caryn,

Need your input regarding your married family history. Also need for you to fill in the blanks on your bio. Email me at enelson48@cfl.rr.com.

Kristen Nelson (?)

Birth Name: Kristen (?) Nelson
Name preference:
Born: (?)
Parents: Robert Allen Nelson, Linda Bell Nelson
Siblings: Robert (?) Nelson, John (?) Nelson, Caryn Nelson (?)
Grade school: (?)
High School: (?)
College: (?)
Military Service: (?)
Married: (?) (When and where?)
Children: (?)

Kristen,

Need your input regarding your married family history. Also need for you to fill in the blanks on your bio. Email me at enelson48@cfl.rr.com.

John (?) Nelson

Birth Name: John (?) Nelson
Name preference: Born: (?)
Parents: Robert Allen Nelson, Linda Bell Nelson
Siblings: Robert (?) Nelson, Kristen Nelson (?), Caryn Nelson (?)
Grade school: (?)
High School: (?)
College: (?)
Military Service: (?)
Married: (?) (When and where?)
Children: (?)

John,

Need whatever you choose to write about yourself. Don’t be shy. Also need for you to fill in the blanks on your bio. Email me at enelson48@cfl.rr.com.

Linda Bell Nelson

Birth Name: Linda (?) Bell
Name preference:
Born: (?)
Parents: (?)
Siblings: (?)
Grade school: (?)
High School: (?)
College: (?)
Military Service: (?)
Married: Robert Allen Nelson (When and where?)
Children: Robert (?) Nelson, John (?) Nelson, Kristen Nelson (?), Caryn Nelson (?)

Linda,

Need your input regarding the Bell family history, however you choose to present it. Email me at enelson48@cfl.rr.com.

Robert (?) Nelson

Birth Name: Robert (?) Nelson
Name preference:
Born: December (?) 1962
Deceased: (when?)
Parents: Robert Allen Nelson, Linda Bell Nelson
Siblings: John (?) Nelson, Kristen Nelson (?), Caryn Nelson (?)
Grade school: (?)
High School: (?)
College: (?)
Military Service: (?)
Married: (?) (When and where?)
Children: (?)

Bob, Linda,

Posterity would appreciate your input regarding Bobby’s bio. Email me at enelson48@cfl.rr.com.

Stephen (?) Dantzler

Birth Name: Stephen (?) Dantzler
Name preference:
Born: (?)
Parents: (Father’s name?) (Mother’s maiden name?)
Siblings: (?)
Grade school: (?)
High School: (?)
College: (?)
Military Service: (?)
Married: Jennifer Crossley Dantzler (When and where?)
Children: Eric Anthony Dantzler, Emma Kate Dantzler

Steven,
Posterity would appreciate your input regarding the Dantzler family history. Email me at enelson48@cfl.rr.com.

Including Kids

Emma Kate Dantzler

Birth Name: Emma KatherineDantzler
Name preference:
Born: (?) Where in Texas?
Parents: Stephen (?) Dantzler, Jennifer Crossley Dantzler
Siblings: Sarah (?) Dantzler, Eric Anthony Dantzler
Grade school: TBD
High School: TBD
College: TBD
Military Service: TBD
Married: TBD
Children: TBD



Jennifer,

Need whatever you desire to share about Emma here.

Eric Anthony Dantzler

Birth Name: Eric Anthony Dantzler
Name preference:
Born: June (?) 2004? Where in Texas?
Parents: Steven (?) Dantzler, Jennifer Crossley Dantzler
Siblings: Sarah (?) Dantzler, Emma Kate Dantzler
Grade school: (TBD)
High School: (TBD)
College: (TBD)
Military Service: (TBD)
Married: (TBD)
Children: (TBD)

Photo taken circa December 2008

Jennifer, Stephen,

Need whatever you guys wish to share about Eric thus far.

Lillian Hughes Nelson (?)

Birth Name: Lillian Hughes Nelson (?)
Name preference: Lily
Born: (?) Brooklyn, NY
Parents: (?)
Siblings: (Lily had seven brothers and sisters – need names)
Grade school: (?)
High School: Fort Hamilton High School, Brooklyn, NY, 1955-1959
College: None
Military Service: None
Married: Howard Lawrence Nelson, (?), Brooklyn NY (Divorced when?)
Children: William Howard Nelson

Willie,
Share as much of your Mom's Hughes family history here as you desire. Remember, this is as much for posterity as it is for any other reason. Email it to me at enelson48@cfl.rr.com and I'll be glad to post it here.

Anthony (?) Crossley

Birth Name: Anthony (?) Crossley
Name preference:
Born: (?)
Parents: (?)
Siblings: (?)
Grade school: (?)
High School: (?)
College: (?)
Military Service: (?)
Married: (?), Marilyn Nelson Crossley
Children: (oldest to youngest), Jennifer Crossley Dantzler


Tony,

Share as much of the Crossley family history here as you desire. Eric Anthony's and Emma Kate's grandchildren would love to read it decades from now. Mail or Email it to me at: enelson48@cfl.rr.com and I'll be glad to post it here.

Alice Johnson Nelson

Birth Name: Alice (?) Johnson
Name preference:
Born: (?)
Parents: Walter (?) Johnson, (Mother’s maiden name?)
Siblings: Dorothy Johnson Clark, Margaret Johnson Larsen, Walter (?) Johnson
Grade school: (?)
High School: (?)
College: (?)
Military Service: None
Married: Allen Clifford Nelson (When and where?)
Children: Jennie Nelson Landean, Susan Nelson Clarke, Allen (?) Nelson

Jennie, Susan, Allen,

Since your Mom is the link from the Nelson family to the Johnson family, your Mom's bio here is the appropriate place to add the Johnson family history. Posterity would appreciate your input regarding your recollections of the Johnson family. We can add to it based on input from other Nelson family members who recall the Johnson family, myself included. Email me at enelson48@cfl.rr.com.

Patricia Shoaf Nelson

Birth Name: Patricia (?) Shoaf
Name preference: Pat
Born: (?)
Parents: (Father’s name?) (Mother’s maiden name?)
Siblings: Dorothy Shoaf (?)
Grade school: (?)
High School: (?)
College: (?)
Military Service: None
Married: Richard Louis Nelson (When and where?)
Children: Gregory Richard Nelson, Jeffrey (?) Nelson, Patti Ann Nelson Meeker

Pat,

Posterity would appreciate your input regarding the Shoaf family history. Email me at enelson48@cfl.rr.com.

Louise Roi Nelson

Birth Name: Louise (?) Roi
Name preference:
Born: July 2, 1923, Brooklyn, NY
Parents: (?) Roi, (?) Roi (adopted)
Siblings: Benny Paulowitz, Helen Paulowitz, Loretta Roi Churchill
Grade school: PS 140, Brooklyn, NY, (?)
High School: Fort Hamilton?
College: NoneMilitary Service: None
Married: Warren Bernhardt Nelson, June 5, 1943, Brooklyn, NY
Children: Kenneth Bruce Nelson

Ken, Darby,
Need whatever input you have for your Mom, especially before she married Dad. Also, this is the place to expand on the Roi/Paulowitz family history.

Loretta Murphy Nelson

Birth Name: Loretta (?) Murphy
Name preference: Dotsy
Born: (?) 1924?, Brooklyn, NY
Parents: James (?) Murphy, Catherine (?) Murphy
Siblings: Ellen Murphy Bechtold, Irene Murphy Makulitis, Catherine Murphy Myrdahl, Mary Murphy (?), James (?) Murphy, Madeline Murphy Sintiago, Raymond (?) Murphy
Grade school: PS 140, Brooklyn, NY, (?)
High School: Fort Hamilton?
College: None
Military Service: None
Married: Robert Andrew Nelson, April 5, 1942 (Easter Suday), (where?)
Children: Robert Allen Nelson, Thomas Edward Nelson, Lynda Nelson Buddin

Lynda,
Need yours and Bob’s input here with regard to Mom’s life that you know of before she married Dad. Also, this is THE venue for sharing all about the Murphy family because Mom was the link to her entire family. I’ll gEt Aunt Marilyn’s and my input after we’ve gotten yours and Bob’s.

Come Dance With Me

Felix Frankfurter

Handy Andy And All

The Scandinavian heritage of woodworking talents is alive and well throughout all generations of the Nelson family. It's not known if Andrew "Andy" Anderson was handy or not, but he certainly brought with him the "handy andy" genes from the Swedish side of the Nelson ancestry. Bernie brought with him the naturally clever, handy talents from the Norwegian side of the Nelson ancestry. Of Bernie's six boys, only the oldest and youngest -- Bob and Howie -- showed no interest in anything related to building construction, remodeling, or handyman projects.

Warren, who majored in Structural Engineering at Brooklyn Tech, put his talents to use with several remodeling projects beginning with the initial purchase of 367 56th Street with his father Bernie. From there it grew to turning the Pinecliff Lake cottage into a year-round house by adding a two-car garage and master bedroom suite, designed by kid-brother Gene, who studied Architectural Drafting and Design at Brooklyn Tech.

Warren's son Ken became a self-taught house builder while living in Richmondville, NY. He taught both his sons Kenny and Danny how to build. After moving to Spencer, NC, Ken joined the Rowan County Schools Maintenance Department. In 1999 he bought property in the county and with the help of his sons built his own house. He later added a workshop where he built flag cases and display cases that he sold at craft shows.

Ken's son Kenny has become one of the most prolific wood millwrights in North Carolina. He works out of Winston-Salem building specialty wood products, often using plans only where required by code; otherwise, he follows the plans he sees in his vision. His workmanship is impeccable.

Bernie's third son, Dick was always interested in remodeling. He began with a part-time venture doing odd-job renovations for some of his Schrafft's customers after work. Every house he ever owned bears his remodeling signature. After retiring from Schrafft's, Dick moved his family to Spencer, NC, where he began a short career of working for himself in the remodeling business. After a while he joined the Rowan County Schools Maintenance Department, where he was influential in getting Ken a job. In addition to spending generations remodeling his old Spencer house, Dick bought two other houses that he remodeled and sold to his sons, Greg and Jeff. Dick’s remodeling pranks became posthumous news in the local newspaper.

Greg continued in his father's footsteps by remodeling his New Jersey home. He found some old oak flooring that was removed from an old building, and he built all of his kitchen cabinets from the oak. Greg's livelihood is as an electrician in the building trade industry.

Jeff carried the remodeling theme to Swiss watch making precision. His penchant for perfection drives some people crazy, but the end results of his efforts are nothing short of showroom quality. Jeff is also an electrician who was in the building trades, but is currently in the maintenance department of a furniture manufacturer in Salisbury, NC.

Allen, Bernie's fourth son, was the first in the family to wander from the Brooklyn nest. He moved his family way upstate New York to a little town called Richmondville, forty miles west of Albany. Allen started in the remodeling business, but soon began a long career as a mason contractor. When he retired from that trade he went to work for a mechanical contractor in Binghamton, NY as a contract labor negotiator.

Gene, Bernie's fifth son, was fascinated with the design and drawing end of the construction world. He majored in Architectural Drafting and Design at Brooklyn Tech, and his first drafting job was for a stone company in Manhattan. From there he did drafting for Babcock and Wilcock and General Electric before launching a fifteen-year architectural career in Albany, NY, NJ, and NC. In the meantime he too took on remodeling projects as a homeowner in New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida.

Chris, Gene's son, took on a ten-year career in the Coast Guard. While stationed in Virginia he bought a house in Hampton for his family. During the three years they lived there, Chris and Karen transformed the house to such a state that the new owners didn't want to change a thing when they bought it (except to repaint the baby's room).

So if you are a later generation Nelson and you have a penchant for building or designing or remodeling, you'll have a pretty good idea of where your talent genes originated. Make the most of it! And, as Gene's eighth grade teacher wrote in his year book, "So you want to be a builder. May you always build to the glory of God."

Aluminum Ladder Company

Fuchs Systems

Sperry

General Electric

Kenway Metals

NELSONS IN UNIFORM

“And crown Thy good, with Brotherhood,
From sea to shining sea.”

Kleng M. Nelson , Bernie's older brother, served in both WWI and WWII. As a Major in WWII he came across a wounded soldier, who turned out to be his own son.

Bernie the Patriarch, as a civilian, kept materiel and supplies flowing smoothly overseas from the Brooklyn Army Base during WWII.

Bob the eldest son, kept from joining his brothers in battle for reasons of health, served with equal valor on the home front with the defense industry during WWII.

Warren crossed the shining Atlantic to join Patton’s Third Army in the fierce Battle of The Bulge, and then was part of the forces that helped liberate the Jews from the concentration camps.

Dick crossed the shining Pacific to fend off post-war sniper fire in occupied Japan.

Allen, the only Navy Nelson, on guard immediately following World War II to assure it never happened again.

Gene and Howie crossed the shining Atlantic, though thanks to the older brothers, were able to serve in peaceful Germany.

Bobby, Bob’s oldest, also benefited from his father's and uncles’ efforts and served in peacetime on the home front.

Tommy, Bobby’s brother, crossed the shining Pacific and served valiantly in Viet Nam.

Greg, the only Marine Nelson, crossed the shining Pacific and followed in his father’s footsteps serving in peaceful Japan.

Jeff, Greg’s brother and the only Air Force Nelson, served to keep America’s skies safe.

Chris (shown with his Coast Guard wife, Karen), Gene’s son and the only Coast Guard Nelson, patrolled the Caribbean protecting America’s shores.

Michael, Greg’s son, proudly serves with the New Jersey State Police.

EVERY BRANCH OF THE MILITARY IS REPRESENTED BY AT LEAST ONE NELSON.

Following is a photomontage of Nelsons in uniform. Thus far, there is no photo available of Kleng Nelson, and it is anticipated that a photo of Allen Nelson in uniform will be made available in the not too distant future.


Bernie the Patriarch with Jennie the Matriarch of the Nelson family. Bernie served the war effort (WWII) in a civilian capacity at the bustling Brooklyn Army Base - 1941-1945.

Bob - Bernie's oldest - rejected for military service due to health - served in civilian capacity in the defense industry during WWII. (This is a rare photo of the oldest and youngest Nelson siblings, separated by nineteen years, taken in March 1942. Bob was 20 and Howie was 1).

Warren - Bernie's second son - US Army - served in Europe - Battle of the Bulge - 1943-1945

Dick - Bernie's third son - US Army - MP in occupied Japan 1945-1947

Allen - Bernie's fourth son - US Navy - 1946-1950 (no photo available yet)

Gene - Bernie's second youngest - US Army - served in peacetime Germany 1959-1960

Howie - US Army - Bernie's youngest - served in peacetime Germany 1961-1962

Bobby - Bob's oldest son - US Army - stateside

Tommy, Bob's second son - US Army - served in Viet Nam

Greg - oldest son of Dick - March 1973 - the only Marine Nelson


Jeff - second son of Dick - the only Air Force Nelson - circa 1975


Chris and Karen met and married while both were serving in the Coast Guard. Karen: 1998-2003. Chris: 1998-2008 (Chris the only Coast Guard Nelson - son of Gene)

Michael, son of Greg, in his New Jersey State Police uniform - 2006

THE WORKPLACE

• Aluminum Ladder Company
• Architecture and Building
• Fuchs Systems
• General Electric
• Including Kids
• Kenway Metals
• Schraffts
• Sperry
• The Transportation Industry

Salisbury, North Carolina

Jasmine Marie Nelson

Birth Name: Jasmine Marie Nelson
Name preference: Jazz, Jazzy, Jasmine
Born: February 20, 2003, Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, VA
Parents: Christopher John Nelson, Karen Baker Nelson
Siblings: TBD
Grade school: Sunset Park Elementary, Windermere, FL, 2008-
High School: TBD
College: TBD
Military Service: TBD
Married: TBD
Children: TBD



Chris, Karen,
Share whatever you and Jasmine desire to share here.

Jasmine's First Tube Dive

In early September 2008, Chris Nelson experienced his first “tube dive” at a place called Sky Venture in Orlando, Florida. The experience simulates actual sky diving, but in a controlled atmosphere that can best be described as a Plexiglas-enclosed vertical wind tunnel. Participants are assigned to specific classes for instructional briefings and for donning the proper attire. An experienced sky diving instructor is in the tunnel with the student at all times, giving hand signals taught during the briefing, and physically guiding the student when necessary, while friends and family observe from the other side of the Plexiglas. Chris’ father Gene and daughter Jasmine accompanied him to watch Chris sky dive, and he did extremely well. Five-year-old Jasmine, a cautiously adventurous young lady, was intrigued by her Daddy’s adventure, and she asked to try it. After her experience the instructor said she was one of the best five-year-olds he ever instructed.

Sky Venture videotapes all sky dives and sells copies to interested students. Chris bought a copy and within a few days he had Jasmine’s first tube dive posted on YouTube.

Fort Hamilton High School

Anne Mackey Nelson

Birth Name: Anne Phyllis Karen Mackey
Name preference: Anne
Born: December 26, 1940, Brooklyn, NY; Passed through the veil: August 27, 2003
Parents: John Edward Mackey, Phyllis Zaremba (Mackey) Wilson
Siblings: John Edward Mackey, Jr, Dorothea Lorraine Gallagher, Frank James Mackey
Grade school: PS 140 and PS 140A, 1947-1955
High School: Fort Hamilton High School, Brooklyn, NY, 1955-1958
College: None
Military Service: None
Married: Eugene Ronald Nelson, January 21, 1961, South Reformed Church, Brooklyn, NY
Children: Sandra Nelson Fite, Karen Nelson Jewell, Christopher John Nelson

Anne was born three months premature, and weighed in at one pound nine ounces. Both of her parents had the same birthday, July 12th, two years apart. Her father was a first-generation American born in 1915 of Irish parents, and her mother was a first-generation American born in 1917 of Polish parents. John’s mother was Anne Mackey, and he had a brother Timothy. Phyllis’ parents were Frank Zaremba and Stella Zaremba Jeziorkowski, and she had three brothers: Walter Zaremba, Yosh and Freddie Jeziorkowski.

John Mackey was an accomplished truck driver for Consolidated Freightways, and the recipient of a million-mile safe driving award.

Frank Zaremba was an accomplished amateur violinist who worked in the coalmines in Poland. He was from Lwow, which is now Lviv, a city in western Ukraine near the southeastern border of Poland. Stella was from Gdansk, a city in northern Poland on the Baltic Sea. She came from a large family, and for years she ran a candy store in Brooklyn, saving her money to send back home for passage for her brothers and sisters to migrate to the US. When Frank passed through the veil at the young age of 29 from lung disease, Stella married a Jeziorkowski, circa 1920. Stella passed through the veil in 1954.

John Mackey Jr. was born March 26, 1936, and passed through the veil circa 1986.
Dorothea was born January 3, 1937 or 1938.
Frank was born November 4, 1948.

In the mid fifties young John Mackey, Jr. headed for California, where he met and married Rosie (?). They had two girls, Laura and (?). With his second wife John had a son Ryan.

Also in the mid fifties Phyllis and her brother Yosh opened a fish and chips store on 58th Street near 3rd Avenue. One of their steady customers, John Wilson, an engineer with the Long Island Railroad, took a shine to Phyllis and they were married circa 1959. In October 1958 Dorothea married John Gallagher from 46th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues. After their first child, Phyllis was born in 1960, they moved to Hauppauge, Long Island (where they still live, as of this writing), where their daughter Rosemary was born. Phyllis and John moved to Commack later that same year with Phyllis’ twelve-year-old son Frank in tow. Frank became the son John never had, and Frank, who saw little of his biological Dad, found a new Dad in John. Frank loved cars and became a whiz mechanic as a young teenager. A few years later he found his wife-to-be, Jackie Hoffman of Brentwood, and they were married circa 1967. A year later they had Bonnie, their only child.

All three of Phyllis’ brothers married girls of Italian descent. Walter married Ann (?), and while living in the borough of Queens they had four boys: Ricky, Tommy, Frank, and Walter. Walter passed through the veil young at age 46. Yosh married Lovey (?) and they had two boys, John and Robert. They soon moved to Commack as well. Freddie married Chickie (?), and they had a son Freddie and a daughter Winnie, and they moved to Lake Ronkonkoma, Long Island. Freddie also passed through the veil at the young age of 41.

John Mackey, the elder, passed through the veil in 1968 at age 51 while living with Anne and Gene in Pinecliff Lake. John Wilson passed through the veil at age 72, circa late eighties. Phyllis passed through the veil in 2006 at the age of 89 after having lived at the same house in Commack for 45 years. She never had a driver’s license her entire life. Who says you can’t get by without driving a car?

In 1973 Frank and Jackie temporarily moved in with Gene and Anne in Pinecliff Lake in preparation for their move to a new life in Spencer, North Carolina. Frank struggled to find appropriate work in Spencer, so he partnered with Gene’s brother Dick as a handyman/painter. A scary accident caused Dick to abandon the business, and Frank, a quick learner, soon had the embryo of a successful contract painting business in motion. In time he acquired a reputation as being Rowan County’s best painter. Since his teen years, Frank had always been self-employed. Somewhere in the late eighties-early nineties Frank and Jackie moved to Marathon, Florida, and opened a carpet and paint store, which they later sold when they moved to Cape Coral.

Architecture and Building

Public School 140 (PS 140)

Street Games in Brooklyn

Eileen and Jim Shaw

In many ways, Eileen Shaw was the musical cog in the wheel of social life at South Reformed Church. She was the always-dependable volunteer choir director and organist when none other was available, and she was often asked to sing at weddings. She had a beautiful soprano voice. Ever the ebullient one, Eileen always had a smile for everyone, and she was sincerely interested in the well being of every one at the church.

Wherever Eileen went, her husband Jim was right by her side. Both worked full-time jobs in Manhattan. They had no children of their own, so it was understandable that Eileen took a shine to the Nelson boys when they emerged on the church social scene in the late forties and throughout the fifties. In particular, Dick Nelson, ever the teasing sociable prankster, had Eileen wrapped around his finger. She was forever laughing at his comedic antics. What followed was the germ of an idea that would produce some incredible indelible memories etched in the minds of many for eons: the birth of the Choristers, a social group for all members of all ages who had an interest in performing in musical plays produced by the group, with Eileen as the Musical Director.

Eileen had a niece, Mary Dorans, who was sweet on Allen Nelson for years. Once Allen married Alice Johnson, Mary found a mate in Harry Losey.

The Shaws were also influential in getting the Nelson clan to the Pinecliff Lake area of West Milford, New Jersey, because for years the Shaws had owned a waterfront summer cottage on the lake. Actually, Jim the industrious and resourceful handyman built the cottage by himself.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church

Chuck Connors

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Connors

Sunset Park neighborhood

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunset_Park,_Brooklyn

Bay Ridge neighborhood

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_Ridge,_Brooklyn

Sunset Park - The Park

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Roosevelt served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy from 1913-1920 under President Woodrow Wilson. As part of his duties, Roosevelt had the unpleasant task of sending out letters to hopeful candidates who, for any one of several reasons, were being denied admission to the Naval Academy at Annapolis. One of those candidates was Bernhardt Luvig Nelson , a young teenage academic whiz from the Borough of Brooklyn, who had already secured the required senatorial recommendation from his New York State Senator. However, a report from the medical examiner left Roosevelt no choice but to deny Bernie's application because the loss of sight in his right eye, caused by a piece of glass years earlier, rendered Bernie unqualified to attend the Naval Academy.

Later on in his political career Roosevelt became the Governor of Bernie's state of New York before becoming the President of Bernie's beloved country. When Roosevelt was President he instituted the Works Progress Administration (WPA) program in the 1930's, and it provided Bernie with the opportunity to secure a job with a construction company that was building the new Sunset Park pool complex in Brooklyn. A subset of the WPA was the Federal Theatre Project (FTP) that provided funds to stimulate employment in the arts. A recipient of such a program were the dance bands that were formed to play for free at various venues, including the Wednesday night sessions at Sunset Park.

Following are a few Roosevelt biographical links:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/fr32.html
http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/fdrbio.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_D._Roosevelt

The Bermuda Cruise

Pinecliff Lake

http://www.pineclifflake.org/

Richmondville, New York

For more than half a century there has been at least one Nelson living in the little town of Richmondville in upstate New York, approximately forty miles west of Albany the state capital on route 7, which parallels the newer route 88. The town is located in Schoharie County in the Cherry Valley region of New York State.

The Nelson presence in Richmondville began in the mid 1950s with the pioneering spirit of Allen and Alice Nelson. The town's population was less than 800. Allen and Alice were the first to venture away from the close-knit Nelson and Johnson family roots in Brooklyn. At the time they had two young girls; Jennie was about three and Susan was an infant. The family bought an old eighteen-room house on a seventy-eight acre “rock” that had little usable land. What land there was Allen rented to a neighbor farmer who used the pasture for grazing his dairy cattle.

Access to the house was up a relatively steep hill, over a set of railroad tracks, and then around a sharp, curvy hill that was difficult to negotiate, especially in the winter. Seven of the eighteen rooms in the house were an unfinished addition that had been exposed to the elements for so long that they were a challenge to make usable. However, Allen put a lot of effort into the remaining eleven rooms to make comfortable quarters for his young family. At one point the only drinking water came from a mountain spring somewhere in their seventy-eight acre “rock.” It was while living on the hill that Alice and Allen gave their daughters a brother, young Allen, a pure redhead.

Allen the elder was self-employed doing odd job handyman projects, primarily painting and remodeling. After a while he found an opportunity as an apprentice for a local established mason contractor. It didn’t take Allen long to realize his own talents in the trade, and he branched out on his own as a mason contractor. In time the family sold the house on the hill and moved into town on Main Street, which is route 7. Jennie and Susan began school at the only school system in town, Richmondville Central, which included classes from kindergarten through the four years of high school. At some point after the Nelsons moved to Richmondville, Allen’s close friend, Sven Fagergren, and Sven’s wife Ann Massey Fagergren, both from Brooklyn, made the move to Richmondville, and Sven went to work with Allen. Sven and Ann adopted a young boy and named him Sven Jr.

In October 1961, influenced by Allen’s romantic tales of life in the country, Gene and his bride of eight months, Anne, made the venturous move to Richmondville. They had no car or driver’s license because there was no need for one in the Big Apple. Gene commuted with fellow employees who worked at the Sperry Rand plant in Cobleskill, seven miles east of Richmondville, and Anne baby-sat Alice and Allen’s children while Alice went to work.

Allen and Sven joined several other friends from Cobleskill and formed the Coble Aires, a drum and bugle corps. The influential leader was Bill Retty, a talented performer in his own right. Allen learned the bass drum, and Sven played the bugle. The group performed to appreciative crowds during the summer seasons. For the short while that Gene was in Richmondville, he joined the group as a snare drummer. When Sperry Rand closed the Cobleskill plant Gene and Anne moved to Schenectady, where Gene found work as a draftsman with General Electric.

In the late sixties Allen and Sven were returning from a job one cold winter evening and their van overturned on a slick country road. As a result Sven became paralyzed in his legs and was confined to a wheelchair for the remainder of his life. He was given the opportunity to retrain, and learned to become a productive draftsman. His wife Ann began a career in the local Richmondville bank where she worked her way up the corporate ladder and became an influential loan officer. Allen commuted to work at the offices of Lux and Quackenbush, Architects, in Albany, where Gene worked as a draftsman. Through his contacts Allen eventually found an executive position with a large plumbing contractor in Binghamton. Instead of commuting every day, he rented an apartment during the week and came home to Richmondville for the weekends. By then he and Alice had moved from their Main Street home to another address on Depot Street, within walking distance of the Main Street home.

By then Susan had married Larry Clarke, who was a teacher at the Richmondville school system. Larry later became principal. The Clarkes raised their family in Richmondville and became a vibrant force in the life of the community. Jennie had since moved to the Maryland-Virginia area. Allen married a girl named Penny, and they remained in Richmondville where they raised their family as well.

In the mid-eighties Ken and Darby made the move from West Milford, NJ to Richmondville, where Ken found work remodeling and building houses. By then young Kenny was out of high school and he learned a lot working with Ken in the building trade. Kristina was off to college, and Danny transferred to the Richmondville school system. Warren and Louise soon followed Ken and Darby, and they rented a house from Sven Fagergren’s parents, who also made the move from Brooklyn years earlier. In fact, while Gene and Anne were still in Richmondville, Gene commuted with Mr. Fagergren to Sperry Rand, where Mr. Fagergren was employed as a machinist. Warren found work at the local Best Western motel.

At a young age of fifty-eight Allen passed away in December 1986 after a long bout with cancer. Shortly afterwards Jennie met Lou Landean, whom she said would have gotten along famously with her Dad. Alice stayed at the Depot Street address until she passed away. When Sven Fagergren passed away his wife Ann moved back into the house originally owned by the senior Fagergrens. Since then the Clarkes have retired to Charlottesville, Virginia. Jennie married Lou and they live in Westminster, Maryland. Allen and Penny still reside in Richmondville, in the Depot Street house where Alice and Allen both passed away.

Indeed, Richmondville holds a long part of the Nelson family history.

West Milford, New Jersey

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Milford,_New_Jersey

Henry "Harry" Poppe

367 56th Street

374 56th Street

Elizabeth "Betty" Larsen

There is much about Betty that is not known as of this writing, particularly her early years, but as we progress and find out more, we will update accordingly. Though her last name was Scandinavian in origin, she did have German in her lineage.

Betty became as much a member of the Nelson family as one could possibly be without marriage or birth ties. She never married, but her nurturing ways found an outlet with the three younger Nelsons, Marilyn, Gene, and Howie. Betty took her Sunday school teaching duties at South Reformed Church a step further and became involved in the students’ lives. The relationship grew to include the rest of the Nelson family. Betty is a sister in the true sense of the word.

In circa 1950 Betty lived across 56th Street from the Nelson family's 367 address. Her apartment was actually at the basement level in the four-story apartment building at 374 56th Street. Access was through a wrought iron gate down into a lower level courtyard that was large enough to provide the only light to her apartment through the windows that faced the courtyard. Shortly after Bernie and Warren bought the tenement house at 367 56th Street, they offered Betty the fourth floor apartment vacated by the recently deceased owner, Henry "Harry" Poppe.

Betty worked in Manhattan, though the particulars are vague at this point. But she wrapped herself around her church family at South Reformed. She always had a smile on her face. In addition to teaching Sunday school she was a dependable regular in the church choir. Her voice was a powerful and sweet soprano, and she was often called upon to sing solos.

Not long after the Nelsons sold 367 (circa 1963) and moved to West Milford, New Jersey, Betty followed suit and bought a cute little cottage on Pinecliff Lake, within earshot of her Nelson families of Bernie and Jennie, Bob and Dot, Warren and Louise, Gene and Anne, Howie and Lily, and Kenny and Darby. A half-hour down the road in Wyckoff was Marilyn and Tony Crossley. The only missing Nelsons were Dick and Pat, who were living further south in New Jersey, near Philadelphia, and Alice and Allen, who were three hours further north in Richmondville, New York. Betty made the one-hour bus commute every day to her job in Manhattan.

In June of 1973 Betty and a co-worker joined Bob and Dot and Gene and Anne on a memorable Bermuda Cruise.

Music and the Nelsons

Music has always been an integral part of the Nelson family, though never with any formal training; that is not until the emergence of Amy Slizek Nelson , who holds a Master’s Degree in Music, and has formal operatic voice training. More on Amy later.

The Nelson children may well have inherited their singing abilities from Jennie’s side of the family. Though Bernie could carry a tune, his voice didn’t have the same flair as that produced by the three Anderson sisters: Jennie, Violet, and the youngest, Helen. Helen’s harmony added a richness that sent chills up the spine. Most of the songs they sang were old, turn of the century parlor tunes, and the genteel lullabies from the twenties and thirties. They even had a few Swedish folk songs in their repertoire. Helen was also an accomplished pianist.

In addition to his prowess at stickball, Bob, the oldest had a passion for music. He was self-taught on the piano, the vibraphone, drums, and a few other instruments. He had a baritone voice that rivaled the best crooners of the thirties, forties, and fifties. He entered and won several local singing contests in and around Brooklyn, and just missed a professional career in 1947 when, at the age of 25, he was beat out by Vic Damone on the CBS radio program Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts, the equivalent of today’s American Idol contests. But that didn’t stop Bob from enjoying his music at every opportunity that presented itself. Later in life he dreamed of owning a music store, but it remained a dream only.

Bob's daughter, Lynda possesses a beautiful voice that reminds one of Barbra Streisand's. At one point she experimented with the night club scene, but the lifestyle wasn't a goof fit for Lynda.

From a different perspective, Dick, the third oldest, had a passion for Baseball that ultimately earned him an invitation to a Brooklyn Dodger spring training camp, where he had already been assigned number 16. However, that’s another story; this one is about the musical side of Dick. Dick had a delightful tenor voice, and he seemed to shine best in a choral group setting. He had a flair for charming women of all ages; what added to his stature were his tall frame and good looks (he always teased that he was the handsomest of the six boys). Those elements, combined with his fun-loving antics, made him a natural showman. Considering the strength of his commitment to the social life at South Reformed Church, it was only a matter of time that he would be influential in the growth of the Choristers at South Reformed. When he moved his family to Spencer, North Carolina in 1973, he immediately searched out a church that fit him and his family. St. John's Lutheran Church in Salisbury, just south of Spencer, filled the bill. He was heavily involved in church activities, and it took many years before he finally had the right elements in place to influence the founding of the St. John's Men's Chorus at the church.

Allen, the fourth oldest, had an unusually high lyric tenor voice, and his harmony was impeccable. He did well in a barbershop quartet environment, but he also sang some sweet, melodic Irish solos that were perfect for his vocal range and talent. In his younder years he and his friends Eddie Larsen and Sven Fagergren performed as singing waiters at a summer resort restaurant called the Linden House in Greenwood Lake, NY. Allen also learned to play the bass drum for the Cobleskill Coble Aires, an adult drum and bugle corps that performed in several summertime parades in the Schoharie Valley region of New York State, west of Albany.

Marilyn, the only daughter of seven Nelson children, inherited her mother’s charm, good looks, and sweet voice. In her early years she took piano lessons for a while, but she never pursued anything else musically beyond that, the singing parts she played in several of the Choristers performances, and her involvement with the choir at South Reformed Church .

Warren, the second oldest, also had a pleasant tenor voice. He loved to participate, though generally not as a solo performer. While living in Salisbury, North Carolina he sang with Dick in the Men’s Chorus at St. John’s.

The four older boys were wrapped up in the music of the big bands during the thirties and forties, and their hands-down favorite was Glen Miller's Orchestra. General Jimmy Doolittle once said of Glen Miller's music that, next to a letter from home, Glen Miller's music was the next best thing for the GI's overseas during World War II.

Gene, the second youngest, learned to play marching band drums at South Reformed, and he too joined the Coble Aires in Cobleskill, New York for a summer session. His tenor voice was either first or second tenor, depending on who was directing at the time. He also joined the St. John’s Men’s Chorus for one season, and he had a Christmas season with the Virginia Choral Society in Newport News, Virginia.

Howie, the youngest, took music less seriously, but did have a nice tenor voice as well. He was always laid back, and just kind of went along for the ride when the family was involved in singing ventures, playing his part well.

It was Eileen Shaw, musical director of the Choristers, who successfully merged the singing talents of the Nelson boys into a harmonious unit.

(More on Amy later).

St. John's Men's Chorus

St. John's Lutheran Church

Spencer, North Carolina

Baseball

Baseball has always been an integral element of the Nelson family at some level. During the thirties and forties Bob, Warren, and Dick were either actively involved in the game or promoting it in some manner. To raise money during the Depression, they would buy several copies of the Brooklyn Eagle, the local newspaper that always published blank score sheets for the Brooklyn Dodgers home games. Then they bought pencils, cut them in half, and made the journey to Ebbets Field, the Dodgers’ home stadium, where they sold the newspapers and pencils to interested fans attending the game. The profits they made invariably went to Jennie for household needs.

Bernie the Patriarch was instrumental in forming a neighborhood baseball team called Harmony, and the three boys played on the team. One of the teams they competed against had a player from Senator Street named Chuck Connors, who went on to play for the Dodgers, and eventually became a Hollywood actor known best for his TV role as The Rifleman during the fifties. In later years, to convince skeptics that they played against Chuck Connors, the boys produced a Harmony team photo, and in the background was Chuck Connors walking by in his team uniform.

Bob was touted as the best Nelson stickball and baseball player. However, it was Dick who tried out for the Dodgers in the early forties and was invited to spring training in Vero Beach, Florida. His sons Greg and Jeff have the original invitation letters from Branch Rickey, the Dodger GM at the time. It wasn’t long after that invitation that Dick received an invitation of another sort – actually, a command appearance – from Uncle Sam “inviting” Dick to join the Army. After all, there was a world war going on at the time.

During the early fifties Howie and Gene participated in the YMCA Day Camp summer activities generated by the Prospect Park YMCA on 9th Street through South Reformed Church, where the group gathered every morning. Once or twice each summer the group was treated to a day at a Dodger game at Ebbets Field, and that was a huge treat at the time.

For all the support that the local “trolley dodger” fans had given the Dodgers during the previous decades of world series championship drought (although they won twelve pennants), the team finally rewarded the fan dedication with a World Series championship against the rival Yankees in 1955, the only time the Brooklyn Dodgers ever won that coveted baseball prize. The last time Brooklyn experienced such excitement was on VJ day ten years earlier. Two seasons later the Dodgers were in Los Angeles, much to the dismay of the local fans.

Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts

Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts

Vic Damone

Vic Damone

Amy Slizek Nelson

Amy,

Use the SUGGESTED BIO FORMAT as a basis for providing stats, but then share as much as you desire about yourself. This is also the place to share as much as you desire about your own family.

Summer In Sunset Park neighborhood

Stuyvesant High School

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuyvesant_High_School

Brooklyn Technical High School

Alma mater of:

• Robert Andrew Nelson 1936-1939, (what major?)
• Warren Bernhardt Nelson 1938-1941, Structural Engineering
• Eugene Ronald Nelson 1953-1957, Architectural Drafting and Design
• Thomas Edward Nelson 1959-1963, Chemical Engineering

The following link explains very well everything we would otherwise include in this post about Tech. It always was -- and apparently still is -- one of the finest high schools in the country.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn_Technical_High_School

Van Cliburn

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Cliburn

Hale Schroer

Thanks to the Internet, I was successful in tracking down the whereabouts of Hale Schroer, South Reformed's youth group's favorite student minister in the mid-fifties. I'm certain Hale won't mind sharing his response on this blog.

From: Hale Schroer [mailto:haleschroer@kirkwooducc.org]Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 11:27 AMTo: 'Gene Nelson'Subject: RE: Former South Reformed member

Dear Gene,

What a wonderful surprise to hear from you. I remember you well. I was at South Reformed for two years while I was a student at Union Seminary, 1954-55, 55-56. I have often wondered whether South Reformed was still in existence. I treasure the two years I spent in Brooklyn.

Here comes a little history. I graduated from Union in 1957, got married two months later, and started as the organizing pastor for a new church start in Warren,Ohio for the United Church of Christ. We started out in a school. I was there for five years, long enough to get the first building unit erected – Good Shepherd United Church of Christ. From there we moved to St. Louis where I became pastor of Samuel United Church of Christ for ten years. During that time I earned by Doctor of Ministry at Eden Seminary. Kept moving west and spent two years in the Kansas City area before moving back to St. Louis to join the Eden faculty in 1974. I taught at Eden for 25 years. My areas of teaching were preaching and worship. I became Dean for Common Life, which means I was Dean of Students and Dean of the Chapel. Loved both my parish ministry experience and teaching at the seminary. I retired from Eden in 1999 and since then have been doing almost non-stop interim ministries at UCC churches in the area as they prepare to call a new resident pastor. Currently, I am interim minister at Kirkwood UCC, as you know. Been here for 16 months.

Along the way Ann & I had three children, two boys and a girl. One son & family lives in Minnesota where we will be for Thanksgiving. Our daughter & family live in Connecticut. Our other son lives only 15 minutes away in a neighboring suburb.

That is probably more history than you want to know.

Do you know whether South Reformed still exists? Do you ever hear from other members of the youth group. What about the Peterson boy who became a Presbyterian minister. I still remember the youth group putting on “Oklahoma” and I sang the role of Will Parker. Lots of good memories.

I wish for you a joyful Thanksgiving with family and friends.
Hale Schroer

http://www.kirkwooducc.org/Pages/Pastor.htm

South Reformed Church

Influenced by a Scandinavian heritage, Bernie and Jennie Nelson’s church affiliation was Lutheran, and all seven of their children were baptized in the Lutheran church. At one point in his teen years Bernie had aspirations of becoming a minister – a right-of-passage for any teenager influenced by ecclesiastical teachings. In the late twenties the family was living at an apartment on Fourth Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets. After a fire broke out, the family moved to Bay 8th Street. The older boys were fond of their Sunday school at the Lutheran Church on 46th Street, so Grandpa Anderson offered to drive them to the church in his “Tin Lizzie” (Model T Ford).

When the family settled into life on 56th Street in the thirties, the boys were more interested in street games than in church, so the ecclesiastical influence waned. However, when Dick returned from his tour of duty in occupied Japan after the war in 1947, he related some experiences he had while in Japan that caused him to long for reconnection with church. The church that received his attention was right around the corner on 4th Avenue and 55th Street, called South Reformed Church, a member of the former Dutch Reformed Church system that became the Reformed Church In America. From there a whole new chapter emerged for the Nelson family and many friends, thanks to Dick’s influence. Dick and his wife Pat were married at South Reformed in 1947, and until they began their own family seven years later, they “adopted” Dick’s younger siblings, Marilyn, 10; Gene, 8; and Howie, 6, by virtue of taking them many places, especially to South Reformed.

The only pastor at South Reformed from the mid forties well into the sixties was Pastor Frank Curtis Williams, who, with his published poet wife, lived in a historic Revolutionary War home in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn – one of the few Brooklyn homes with a patch of lawn! During that era South Reformed became a haven of varied social activities for hundreds of families and friends virtually every night of the week. A hobby club in the basement gave young boys the opportunity to build model airplanes. One member, Bob Scott, an accomplished drummer, formed a Fife and Drum Corps, secured some marching band drums, gave lessons, and had the kids participate in the annual May 17th Norwegian Day Parade on Fourth Avenue for years. In the summer the church became a gathering place for the Prospect Park YMCA Day Camp program. Friday nights were for the Christian Endeavor youth group (CE), which was a very popular program for a large contingent of young folks. In the mid fifties a tall, young, handsome, ebullient and energetic student minister from Union Theological Seminary, Hale Schroer, made his mark on the youth group at South Reformed. He was quickly taken in by the group, which had difficulty letting him go when the time came for him to move on. One of the most social groups for the adults, however, was Choristers, a group also influenced by – guess who? Yes, it was Dick. In fact, the story of the Choristers is so expansive that it deserves its own post.

Alice and Allen were married at South Reformed circa 1950. Marilyn met her first husband, Ken Kroth, at South Reformed when Ken, a talented organist and pianist graduate of Julliard School of Music, was hired as the church organist and choir director. Ken was a fellow student with Van Cliburn at Julliard when Cliburn won the 1st Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow. Marilyn and Ken were married at South Reformed circa 1959. Gene and Anne followed in January 1961, then Howie and Lily circa 1963. It was in the sixties as the Nelson family followed many others from the church who began to migrate beyond the confines of Brooklyn that the church family had taken on a new look. Years later the church was sold to either a Greek ethnic or Asian ethnic congregation, and not long after that it was destroyed by fire.

NOTABLES IN NELSON HISTORY

• Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
• Chuck Connors
• Felix Frankfurter
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt
• Van Cliburn
• Vic Damone

Norwegian Day Parade

The following website is a fabulous photo collection of the annual May 17th Norwegian Day Parade celebrating Norway's independence from Sweden. The website demonstrates quite well one aspect of the Nelson family heritage growing up in the Sunset Park neighborhood and Bay Ridge neighborhood sections of Brooklyn.

http://www.forgotten-ny.com/STREET%20SCENES/norwegians/norway.html

Choristers

Choristers was indeed a unique social organization in the world. It was the brainchild of Eileen Shaw, a talented pianist/soprano/choir director from South Reformed Church in Brooklyn, NY. Eileen and her husband Jim had no children of their own, and they both worked in Manhattan; either one or both worked at Western Electric for decades. They lived in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn, where a large part of the church population lived, even though the church building was located at 4th Avenue and 55th Street in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn. However, the church drew interest from a large part of Brooklyn primarily because of its emphasis on the social aspects of church life, and the Choristers group was a particularly strong influence.

The idea behind Choristers was to put on an annual musical play as a major fundraiser for the church. The event became known as the Strawberry Festival; after each performance the entire audience was served fresh strawberries and ice cream on shortcakes. The popularity of the program required more than a single night’s performance to satisfy the demand for tickets.

It seemed that Choristers practice was every Tuesday night, but it probably only ran during the fall and winter seasons to rehearse for the spring musical. As opening night drew near, rehearsals increased to two nights a week, with a few dress rehearsals thrown in at the end. The group was very large, and included folks of all ages. Each year Eileen selected a particular Broadway musical, and then she acquired the sheet music and script for the players. Choristers began in the late forties and ran through most of the fifties offering shows such as Oklahoma, Carousel, The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, and Show Boat. Some of the performances were a collection of show tunes from other current Broadway hits.

There was never a shortage of talent at South Reformed Church. The popularity of the Choristers drew some participants who were not even members of the church, and they were welcomed with open arms. Many of the performers had voices rivaling that of professionals. Eileen was a master at bringing out the best that each one had to offer by slotting them in the appropriate parts that highlighted their particular skills.

A large part of the success of the performances came from the dance routines, thanks to the professional efforts of Queenie Hogg. Queenie was a professional Broadway choreographer and a member of the church. She was a pint-sized, tough, diminutive taskmaster, putting the performers through their paces as though they were rehearsing on Broadway. But her efforts paid off with some very successful group dances that wowed the audiences. One routine was a very clever “skeleton” dance. The dancers wore black costumes with skeletons painted in luminescent paint, so that when the lights were turned off, only the skeletons showed. The dancers were literally dancing in the dark, but they had the routine down pat so that they could perform successfully without incident.

Comedy was a part of most rehearsals, though rarely part of the script. The older guys loved to tease Eileen, and she reveled in it, in spite of its disruption to the rehearsals. However, one season she had her chance at payback. She and Queenie developed a comedy ballet dance routine for the guys, and it was hilarious. Imagine all these varied male shapes and sizes prancing around the stage wearing pink tutus! The guys were good-natured about it, and it had the audience roaring with laughter.

Jim Shaw, Eileen’s industrious husband, was not only one of the performers; he also took charge of stage requirements. He designed and built (or had built) multiple sections of collapsible stage floor extensions to double the size of the regular church hall stage, which was otherwise too small for major performances. After the last show the sections were dismantled and stored under the regular stage.

One particularly memorable performance that brought tears to the audience was the finale of Carousel when the entire cast of about thirty performers gathered together in a line and harmonized a moving rendition of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
At one point or another, every one of Bernie and Jennie’s seven children were members of the Choristers, and most of them were members/performers during the same season. In no particular order, following is a list of Chorister members, the names of whom you’ll find scattered throughout the rest of this website in one venue or another: Allen Nelson (lyric tenor), Bob Nelson (baritone), Warren Nelson (tenor), Dick Nelson (tenor), Gene Nelson (tenor), Howie Nelson (tenor), Marilyn Nelson Crossley (alto), Eddie Larson (baritone), Rudy Bachman (bass extraordinaire), Betty Larsen (soprano), Chuck Clark, Jim Shaw (tenor), Jack Peterson (baritone), Barry McCall (tenor – graduate of Manhattan School of Music and Art), Tom McCall (tenor), Helen Queen, Peggy Love, Christine Yonan, Adina Yonan, Dave Saunders (country and western singer/songwriter and fellow alumnus of Brooklyn Tech), Otis Anderson (professional Broadway performer), Louise Nelson, Pat Nelson, Alice Nelson, Charles Anderson, Evelyn Anderson, Fred Schneider, Ronnie Schneider, Walter Johnson, and Bob Rose.