David Nelson

1947 - 2023

David Eric Nelson, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend and colleague, passed away from prostate cancer on April 12, 2023, at his home in Darien, Connecticut. He was 75 years old.

Born July 24, 1947, in Washington, D.C. to Gideon Erik Nelson and Amy Bostrom Nelson, David grew up in St. Louis, MO with his younger brother, Peter. After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Wesleyan University in 1969 and teaching sixth grade for a year, David was drafted into the US Army where he served as a computer programmer and systems analyst in Heidelberg, Germany, until his honorable discharge in 1972. David returned to St. Louis and worked for Monsanto Company and Kellwood Company while pursuing his MBA from Washington University in St. Louis, which he earned in 1976.

David began his 35 year investment career in 1976 at Burns, Pauli & Co. in St Louis before moving to Baltimore in 1982 to join Legg Mason as an investment analyst and later the director of research. He joined Investment Counselors of Maryland as a principal and portfolio manager in 1989 before returning to Legg Mason in 1998. He was a Chartered Financial Analyst, past president of the Baltimore Society of Security Analysts, and an adjunct professor at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.

In retirement, David and his beloved wife Betsy split their time between their homes in Baltimore, Darien, and Washington, D.C. They loved spending time with their three daughters and sons-in-law, and David relished his fame as Poppy to his nine grandchildren.

David championed civic life in Baltimore. He was a longtime trustee of the Baltimore School for the Arts, serving most recently as chair of the Endowment Committee, and was the chair of the Maryland chapter of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. He was a former board member of the Baltimore Educational Scholarship Trust and former trustee and board president of the Bryn Mawr School.

David is survived by his wife of 49 years, Betsy; his three daughters, Sara Goertel (Tim) of Darien, Stephanie Nelson (Neil Campbell) of Washington, D.C., Jennifer Ray (Ryan) of New Canaan; his nine grandchildren, Charlie, Thomas, Abigail, and Emily Goertel, Peter and Patrick Campbell, and George, Henry, and Teddy Ray.

David will be remembered for his intellectual curiosity and love of learning, his exuberant hugs, and his unwavering dedication to his family, friends, and community.

A celebration of life will be held on May 7th at 1:30 PM at the Baltimore School for the Arts. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Baltimore School for the Arts or to the Maryland Chapter for the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD-MD).