Stuart M. Nelson

NELSON, STUART M., 79 Alachua - Stuart M. Nelson, Age 79, LCDR, USN (ret), passed away Monday, February 12th, at E.T. York Haven Hospice Care Center. Mr. Nelson was one of the pioneers in the U.S. Navy nuclear submarine service. He served aboard the first U.S. nuclear submarine, the Nautilus, (SSN 571.) He was a veteran of WW II, Korean War and the Vietnam War, At the age of 16, Nelson joined the U.S. Merchant Marine in 1943. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1944 as a seaman when he was 17. By 1957 he was chief machinist mate aboard the Nautilus, where he was in charge of the propulsion plant during the first submerged trans-polar trip in 1958. In 1960 he was commissioned an officer and remained aboard the Nautilus until 1961. His next duty station was with the engineering staff under the commander of the Submarine Force Atlantic Fleet. During the remainder of his naval career Nelson served aboard the USS H.W. Gilmore (AS-16) and the USS Bushnell (AS-15), After retiring he was an assistant test engineer at Terry Steam Turbine in Windsor Locks, Conn. He was also self-employed in the marine engine and boat repair business and was an engineering supervisor at Unidyne Corp. After relocating to Florida, from 1995-2004 Nelson supervised prototype engineering construction for the Eye Research Laboratory at Progress Center in Alachua. Survivors include his wife of 30 years, Katherine, of Alachua; three sons, Kirk (Phyllis), of Baltic, Conn.; Karl (Paula), of Bridgeport, W.V. and Nels, of New Hampshire, and six grandchildren. Other survivors include a brother, John Neilson, of Logansport, La.; a former daughter-in-law, Hazel Raynes, of Milton, New Hamp.; and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, February 17th, at 2:00PM at Williams Thomas Westarea, 823 NW 143rd St., Jonesville. Burial services will follow at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Tributes in Mr. Nelson's memory may be made to Haven Hospice, 4200 NW 90th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606, or a selected charity. For Further Information Williams-Thomas, Westarea (352) 376-7556