Gordon David Nash

Gordon David Nash, age 91 ½ , passed away on September 27, 2025 after a long, well-lived life, surrounded by his beloved girls: daughters Lisa, Wendy, Denise and wife, Carolyn. Gordon was many things to many people, including son, brother, husband, uncle, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, teacher, coach, prankster and friend.

Gordon was a mid-western boy, and subsequent transplant to Southern California, where he spent most of his life and raised a family. Born in 1934, in Elgin Illinois, he had two brothers, Doug and Gerry and one, occasionally tortured, little sister, Debbie. He grew up playing sports, including baseball, football and most notably basketball, which he loved and (as we all know) became a life-long passion. As a boy and young man, he loved to hunt, ride horses, fish and chase adventure. In later years he often reminisced about time spent with buddies on the Fox River and pranks played on visitors to the horse ranch and boat house where he worked.

After graduating from Elgin High in 1952, and ready to set out on his own, Gordon moved out of the family house and took a job on a pig farm. After losing part of his thumb during an unfortunate incident with a 500lb hog, he decided to go to college. He attended colleges in Illinois and Iowa, and then enlisted in the Army, where he spent two years serving our country, mostly in Germany. His time in the service was short but memorable. He often spoke about the opportunities it afforded him to see places in Germany and Europe that he never would have been able to experience on his own. After the Army, Gordon moved to Southern California and enrolled in UC Riverside. He soon transferred to UC Santa Barbara to pursue studies in biology and physical education. He obtained a Master’s degree in physical education in 1962.

Gordon’s first (and last) job after college was teaching Biology at Helix High School in La Mesa, CA. During his 31 years at Helix, Gordon also became the most accomplished men’s basketball coach in the school’s history. In his 11 years as coach, Gordon’s overall record was 258 wins, 69 losses (a winning percentage of 79%, which remains the best High School record in San Diego County history).

Beyond the impressive stats, Coach Nash is best remembered by his players and students for his passion for the game and for guiding and mentoring their young lives. The phrase “father figure” and similar heart-felt sentiments have been shared about Coach Nash by many people. His most famous player was Bill Walton, with whom Coach remained life-long friends. Coach Nash’s decades long relationship with Bill (as well as Bill’s whole family) was a testament to the impact that he had on Bill, and many other players and students, well beyond the court and well beyond their high-school years.

Gordon’s life was also much broader than teaching and coaching. His other passions and skills included fixing and building things (including the family home), hunting, and traveling. His two biggest loves were fishing and skiing. When he “graduated from teaching,” Gordon hit the road for many skiing odysseys around the country and beyond. Nothing would keep him from getting in a full-day’s fun on the slopes. No matter the conditions, or whether he had anyone to go with him, Gordon chased fresh powder and black diamonds, season after season, well into his late 70’s. He also taught all his daughters and grandkids how to ski. Some of them took every last bit of his patience.

After hanging up his skis, Gordon continued traveling and fishing with the same passion and energy. He and Carolyn traveled to 48 states and a variety of foreign countries. They eventually bought a summer home in Alaska, which became their favorite place to spend time. Gordon’s favorite pastime in Alaska was salmon fishing. He would stand in the rivers for hours on end, well into the night, “flippin” the hook on his line trying for the next “big one.” He taught his daughters and his grandkids how to fish, as well as how to gut and fillet their own fish, and he patiently unsnagged their lines, retied their hooks, and untangled their fouled-up reels.

In addition to all his teaching, Gordon showed by example how to lead a good life, how to be patient, to seek adventure, to face adversity head on, how to keep a positive attitude, and how to have fun. He was goofy and silly, he loved to joke around and tease. He also loved to be teased and to laugh. Gordon could strike up a 45-minute conversation with a perfect stranger and he often did. He loved connecting with people and (as we all know) he loved telling his stories.

Gordon lived a long and full life. We cannot wish more for him in that regard. And through all the good times and the bad, through all the injuries and illnesses, he made the most of his life and his situation. He stayed positive and always kept his sense of humor. He expressed his love and care for us with his words, his emotion and his big strong hugs.

His was a life well lived. A hope and example for us all. He is dearly, dearly missed but never far from our hearts, our stories, fond memories and shard laughter. We love you dad. See you on down the line.