Barbara A. Nelson

Barbara A. Nelson, PhD, died peacefully January 10, 2023. She was born on April 16, 1931 to Arthur and Ann (Clark) Nelson in Buffalo, New York. The family moved often so Barb lived in Texas, several cities in the state of New York and New Jersey before finally setting in Columbus. She received her B.A. from Montclair State and taught 5th Grade and High School in New Jersey. She relocated to Ann Arbor where she earned an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. Arriving in Columbus in 1967, she joined the brand-new School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, which combined the separate Men’s and Women’s Physical Education Departments. She taught at Ohio State for 33 years. She was a pioneer in the psychology and sociology of sport and was a mentor to many graduate students who themselves have contributed mightily to the study of sport and leisure.

She was a longtime member of the Ohio State Women’s Golf Association, and already had materials for the upcoming 2023 Fantasy Baseball season. She was a longtime student of Tai Chi and loved puzzles, especially in the New York Times and invented quite a few of them herself. She was an artist and became sought after for portraits of pets and children. She loved cats and had a series of beloved animals, her last and most perfect, a Ragdoll named Andy.

Barbara was active in the Ohio State Retirees Association, for years had season tickets to OSU Football, Women’s Basketball, the Columbus Symphony, and the Opera. She was a member of Clintonville Woman’s Club and she contributed generously to animal rescue organizations — from cats to elephants. She leaves behind a myriad of students, friends, and neighbors. Her neighbors were her family, especially Pam, Susan, Kathleen, Carol, Andy, Mary Lou, and Rick. Other Friends as Family include Reggie, Nancy, Sally.

Special thanks and appreciation go to the caregivers of Comfort Keepers and especially, Capital City Hospice. A celebration of her life will be held from 11 AM-1 PM on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST, 1740 Zollinger Road, Upper Arlington, Ohio 43221. In her memory keep your friends a little closer and if you wish, contribute to a charity you choose.