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Obituary – John D. Nelson

Banner Staff
Obituary – John D. Nelson
Obituary - John D. "J.D" NELSON

NELSON, JOHN D. “J. D.”, 76, of Boston, MA, passed away peacefully on June 30, 2013, at his home after a long illness. The son of the late Maston Sr. and Enid Nelson; loving father to Joseph “Jay”, Nina “Batina” and Aleta; brother to the late Maston Jr., David , and Raphael; grandfather to Leigha, Khalif, Chad, Cairo, and Jedidiah; great-grandfather to Nahla and Aariana; uncle to Steven, Michael and the late Lawrence “Larry” Nelson; and grand uncle to Michael, David and Mark

J. D. Nelson was born in Boston, MA, to parents who had emigrated from Jamaica. He graduated from Roxbury Memorial High and studied for three years for the priesthood before joining the U. S. Navy where he served as an Aerial Photographer. In 1990, he founded RhumbLine Advisers, a Boston-based national investment firm specializing in index fund management for institutional investors. Prior to that he was a Senior Vice President at State Street Bank where he spent many years providing financial services to the pension fund marketplace and he helped establish the Bank’s Public Funds Division He also worked as the Administrator and Chief Budget Officer at the Democratic National Committee in Washington DC.

With charisma, infectious enthusiasm and love of life, J.D was surrounded by a large circle of devoted friends from all facets of his life and career. People were attracted to his integrity, wit and boundless energy. He was generous with both his time and talent. He believed in cultivating talent and served as a mentor to many individuals, including the inner-city high school students who were selected to intern in the federal court in Boston as Fellows in the prestigious program named for his beloved brother David, the first African-American Federal District Judge to be appointed in Massachusetts. He served on the Board of the Toigo MBA Fellowship Program which provides resources to minority MBA candidates. He also served on the Board of the Roxbury Multi-Service Center, as well as several other Boards, including those of charitable organizations.

J. D. will also be remembered for his lifelong love of the sea. He was happiest piloting his succession of boats in the waters off Cape Cod and the Islands. He also was an accomplished skier and was one of the first promoters of free-style skiing. Waterville Valley is the birthplace in Freestyle Skiing. manager of the great freestyle skier of Wayne Wong.

A private burial service will be held at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Boston at a later date.

Memorial service will be on Wednesday, July 10th at 11:00am

at St. Cecilia, 18 Belvidere Street, Boston

Officiated by: Rev. John J. Unni

Repast will be at The Hilton Boston Back Bay Hotel

Memorial contributions in memory of J. D. Nelson may be sent to:

The Foundation for Neurological Diseases

10 State Street, Newburyport, MA 01950

www.fndboston.org (Alzheimer’s Research)

Hospice of the North Shore & Greater Boston,

75 Sylvan Street, Ste. B-102, Danvers, MA 01923 (www.hns.org)