DAVID A. NELSON

1934 - 2015

David A. Nelson, President of the Class of 1952 at EHS passed away Tuesday, August 25, 2015 at Woodland Memorial Hospital in California. Born on January 9,1934, in La Porte, Indiana, Mr. Nelson was well known in the Elgin area as the first student announcer on WEPS, and was hired by WRMN in 1951, while still in high school. He was associated with WRMN periodically throughout the 1950's with time out for a stint in the U.S. Army, and to attend college. Mr. Nelson was a graduate of Elgin Community College, Northern Illinois University and also attended Denver U. and Stanford U. In 1962, Mr. Nelson moved to California where he established the first full-time hospital fund development Foundation at Children's Hospital of San Francisco and in Arizona at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix. Nationally recognized as a pioneer in Hospital Fund Development and Public Relations, he was listed in "Who's Who" in the late 1960's. A founding member of the Governing Board of the Public Relations Society of the American Hospital Assn., he was also it's National President for two years. He was also a founding member of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives and what is now called the Assn. For Hospital Philanthropy where he was active in establishing their professional accreditation programs. Mr. Nelson started his own firm in 1969 in San Francisco, and for over 30 years was counsel to non-profit organizations in management, fund raising and public relations. An avid golfer, he was captain of the 1952 EHS golf team. He retired from San Francisco to Woodland, California in 1992, and spent his time volunteering for numerous charities. Mr. Nelson was preceded in passing by his parents, Mr. & Mrs. 0.W. Nelson of La Porte, Indiana, and his only Brother, Thomas, who was a 1951 graduate of EHS. At his request, there will be no memorial service, and gifts may be made to your favorite charity. He will be interred in the family plot in La Porte, Indiana.