Nelson, Gerald "Gerry"

Age 91, of Dartmouth, died peacefully February 17, 2021, in Parkland at the Lakes, surrounded by family. Born in Tangier, on September 17, 1929, he was a son of the Rev. Ernest Albert Nelson and Mar jorie Olive (Mason) Nelson. Gerry received his early education in the one-room (later two-room) school in Tangier. For Grade 12 he attended King's College School in Windsor. He attended the University of King's College, Dalhousie University, and Nova Scotia Technical College. As an electrical engineer, he served in the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME) of the Canadian Armed Forces, during which time he spent a year with the first UNEF Peacekeeping Group in Egypt. Following his time in the Armed Forces, he worked at EMI Cosser Ltd., taught at NSIT for several years, then became Chief Examination Officer for all certified occupations with the Nova Scotia Deptartment of Labour, including the Red Seal Program. He was a dedicated Christian in the Anglican tradition, serving as a Lay Reader, choir member, Eucharistic Minister, Synod delegate, and was a member of various Diocesan and Provincial committees. Additional volunteer work included over 25 years on the Board of Directors of Dartmouth Community (East Coast) Credit Union (serving 2 years as president) and many years on the Dartmouth Community Concert Association Board of Directors until June, 2020, receiving an Honorary Life Membership. He was also an active member of Mensa Canada, serving for many years as branch treasurer and Proctor for the local area. Gerry was not only a loving husband and father, but was also a gentleman who made friends easily and could talk to anyone because he loved people. He was once referred to as a sea of calm and patience no matter what storms were raging around. Those qualities also endeared him to his grandchildren who loved to hear his stories of the 'olden' days, such as seeing the Hindenburg pass over Tangier on its final flight or of how his mother and grandmother survived the Halifax Explosion. Being handy at so many things caused his son-in-law to say Gerry could "fix anything with only stale bread and peanut butter." He was also known for cooking up a great breakfast whenever family was visiting. Of course, we'll always remember the Parmesan cheese incident of 2001! Gerry will be greatly missed by his wife of 60 years, Ethel (Conrad) Nelson; daughters, Dawn (David) Skene, Elizabeth (Steve) Court, and Anne (David) McLeod; grandchildren, Paul and Brian Skene, Charlotte and Evan Court, and Rebecca, Sarah, and Nathan McLeod; sister, Irene Nelson; brother, Sherman Mason; sisters-in-law, June Poole and Linda Knechtel; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; and his stepfather, Clyde Mason. Celebration of Life will take place at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to the Primate's World Relief & Development Fund (PWRDF) https://pwrdf.orgOnline condolences may be made by visiting: www.atlanticfuneralhomes.com Dartmouth Chapel.