Nelson Adelman

Nelson Adelman, 86, passed away peacefully at home on February 26, 2026 in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where he had lived full-time since 2007. He loved his family, baseball and making friends.

Nelson was born in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York, where his childhood centered around his beloved Brooklyn Dodgers and his Orthodox Hebrew School education. He loved telling his grandchildren stories about sneaking into Ebbets Field, being a member of a gang called “the Marathons” and his strict Hebrew School teachers.

Nelson’s family moved to Queens where his competitive running career at Martin Van Buren High School earned him a full athletic scholarship to New York University. He received a degree in business and captained his college track and cross country teams. Nelson ran his fastest mile of 4:16 at the Penn Relays in 1960. That same year, his best friend set him up on a date to an amusement park with the woman who would become the love of his life and wife of 62 years, Donna Joy Adelman (nee Dahab).

Nelson began his business career in New York working for his father-in-law at Dabbs International. He served in the Army reserves and was activated during the Cuban Missile Crisis and stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

In 1971 Nelson moved with his young wife and two sons to Atlanta which at the time was a small city where his strong Brooklyn accent was a curiosity. His natural ease with people and signature smile quickly would quickly win him many friends in Atlanta. He immediately bought season tickets for the Braves who had arrived five years earlier and founded Adelman Sales Corporation. He became a devoted Braves fan and his integrity and outgoing personality made Adelman Sales a winner. His representation of international companies allowed Nelson and Donna to travel extensively around the world.

Nelson was active in Jewish causes in Atlanta and was a member of Congregation Shearith Israel and Ahavath Achim. He played many years of basketball at the Atlanta Jewish Community Center on Peachtree Road and was a Little League coach for a decade at Morgan Falls in Sandy Springs where he coached both of his sons.

In Hilton Head, Nelson’s community involvement continued. He was President of the Men’s Club at Congregation Beth Yam and took great pride in organizing the annual Beth Yam golf tournament which raised money for local charities. His daily commitment to rooting for the Braves continued and he thoroughly enjoyed weekly rounds of golf in his later years coming tantalizingly close to the achievement of shooting his age. More importantly to Nelson, golf with his friends provided captive audiences for his many stories.

In addition to his wife, Donna, Nelson is survived by his son David (Caroline) and his children Oscar, Leah and Avery and his son Mark (Becky) and his children Justice (Devin) and Ellis as well as his great-grandson Chase.

The family is grateful to the doctors and staff at Emory Hospital. Donations in memory of Nelson may be directed to Congregation Beth Yam, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.