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Nelson R. Jesup
Jan. 4, 1924 - Jan. 1, 2014 DORSET Nelson R. Jesup, 89, of Dorset, passed away at Bennington Health and Rehab in Bennington on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014, after several years of declining health, three days before his 90th birthday. Nelson was born on Jan. 4, 1924, to Edward N. and Claire (Phillips) Jesup and raised in Greenwich, Conn. After graduating from Andover, he attended Yale University until military service interrupted his studies in 1943. Nelson enlisted in the Army Air Corps and participated in the European Theater as a P-51 Mustang fighter pilot in the 487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group, 8th Air Force, initially flying out of Bodney, England, and later as the Allies advanced, from Asch, Belgium. Captain Jesup participated in the legendary battle of Y-29, a surprise dawn attack by the German Luftwaffe on New Year's morning 1945, which earned their group the only Distinguished Unit Citation given to a fighter squadron in the Northwestern European theater of operations during the war. He was honorably discharged in November of 1945. On June 26, 1948, he married Keiron Gaynor Lynch and, after several years of living in New York City, they moved to New Canaan, Conn., to raise a family and lived there for 45 years. Nelson worked as an investment banker at Clark, Dodge and Company in New York until he retired. In retirement, Nelson volunteered his time to the town of New Canaan, first on the Finance Committee and then ten very rewarding years as Police Commissioner. In 1998, they moved to Dorset, where he served on the Planning Commission. Nelson had a lifelong passion for the natural world, beginning as a child with extensive bird egg and arrowhead collections. In his youth he and his family spent their vacations hunting and fishing in the Adirondacks at the Tahawus Club, a tradition that Nelson continued throughout his life. He served for many years as President there, and his great grandchildren are now the fifth generation of family to enjoy its natural beauty. He bagged his final grouse at the age of 82. He was happiest watching the sunrise on a 5 degree January morning from a duck blind, listening to coyotes calling at sunset on a trout pond, standing in crashing surf casting for stripers, or stacking the last cord of wood he had hand-split for the season. Nelson was predeceased by his mother, father, a brother, Edward N. Jesup, Jr., and son-in-law, Michael K. Devlin. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Keiron (Gay) Lynch Jesup of Dorset, and their children, Sally Rue and husband, Frank, of Juneau, Alaska, Betsy Jesup Devlin of New Canaan, Conn., Jonathan Jesup and his wife, Mary Chamberlin, of Putney, Vt., his brother, H. Phillips Jesup and wife, Ann, of Bristol, Conn., five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE: A memorial service will be held in Dorset in the spring. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Merck Forest and Farmland Center, PO Box 86, Rupert, VT, 05768. www.merckforest.org/ Arrangements are under the direction of the MAHAR AND SON FUNERAL HOME, 385 Bonnet St. Manchester Center, VT 05255
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2 Entries
Thanks for your service Sir. REST IN PEACE. Regards to your beloved family
Lt. Alex
Other
March 21, 2024
Blue skies, sir. The 352nd Fighter Group Association mourns your absence.
Ken McCoy
January 8, 2014
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