Thomas C. Nelson

NELSON, THOMAS C., 89, passed away this past Saturday as a result of heart complications. Tom was born to Agnes and Lawrence Nelson in New York City on October 30, 1923. He graduated from Jamaica High School in 1941. An all city basketball player, Tom was heavily recruited by two basketball coach greats, Clair Bee of Long Island University and John Lapchick of St. John's University. The summer after graduation, Coach Bee asked Tom to spend the summer illustrating plays for photos in his how-to book entitled Drills and Fundamentals. Nevertheless, Tom chose to attend St. John's University on a full basketball scholarship. Tom was one of only two freshman called up to the varsity team and helped St. John's win their first National Invitational Tournament at Madison Square Garden in 1942. After one year of college, Tom enlisted in the U.S. Navy and attended Officer Candidate School. His dream was to become a fighter pilot. As an ensign, Tom completed his naval flight training requirements and earned his aviator wings at the Naval Air Training Base in Pensacola, FL on May 29, 1945. He was on an aircraft carrier shipping off to fight in the Pacific when World War II ended. He then spent the next several years stationed in Pensacola teaching flight students combat warfare and carrier landings. Tom's lifelong passion was airplanes. He earned his pilot's license several years before he earned his driver's license. For many years, Tom owned and operated a private plane. In his later years, he loved to spend time at Showalter/Herndon airport talking with the tower crew and watching incoming and outgoing planes. In September 2007, Tom received a certificate from the Department of the Navy in recognition of his valuable contribution to the Restoration Advisory Board of the Naval Training Center in Orlando. When he left the service, Tom moved to Winter Park, Florida, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rollins College. Tom was a member of the X Club and several honor societies. He was President of the Senior Class of 1953 and later President of the Rollins Alumni Association. Tom married Barbara Ann Prost on August 20, 1960. Tom was a partner with Cooper, Simms, Nelson & Mosley, an insurance agency in Winter Park for more than 25 years. He was also very active in the community. He served on the Winter Park Insurance Board. He was the Treasurer for the Orlando Chapter of the Florida Conservation Association and also Treasurer of the Save Our Sea Life initiative in Florida which was one of the most successful constitutional amendments gaining the support of more than 72% of the voters. In 1989 Tom was appointed by the Governor to be on the Florida Real Estate Commission in Tallahassee for a four year term. Tom was a member of Interlachen Country Club. He will be missed by the community of Winter Park, which he was so proud to reside in. Tom is survived by his wife Barbara, son Bruce and wife Cindy, son Jim and wife Tami and daughter Katie

Nelson Thomson. He also was the very proud Grandfather to three Granddaughters, Paisley, Jamie and Madison. A visitation service will be held on Wednesday from 5:00-6:30pm with a prayer service starting at 6:00pm at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church on Park Avenue in Winter Park. His funeral mass will be held on Thursday at 4:00pm also at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church. Memorial contributions may be made to The Rollins College Development Fund