Edward H. "Ned" NELSON

NELSON, Edward "Ned" H. Ned was taken from his loving family and many friends on February 25, 2018. He had a lovely last night out with people who loved him before passing away at the age of 99. Ned was born in Winchester, Massachusetts, on September 2, 1918. He grew up in Boston and went to Lenox School in Lenox, Massachusetts. He worked in Philadelphia for four years before enlisting in the U.S. Cavalry in 1940. After Officer Candidate School he served in combat in WWII as a Lieutenant, and later as Captain, in the 3rd Armored Division. During the advance from Omaha Beach to the Elbe River near Berlin, he was wounded in action, hospitalized and returned to action. He experienced intense combat, and was awarded a Bronze Star for gallantry in action on July 12, 1944, an Oak Leaf Cluster to the Bronze Star medal for heroic achievement in action one month later, and a Purple Heart a few weeks after that. After the war, he graduated with honors, from the Yale School of Architecture. After recovery from rheumatic fever, in 1948 he married Lois Renouf, a journalist and editor from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and they moved to Tucson. Ned and Lois then set about building their own house using natural adobes they made themselves and raising three children. Initially, Ned worked for architect Gordon Luepke. In the years following, he partnered with Jim Wares and Gerry Cain and founded Cain, Nelson & Wares Architects. Later, with the addition of Bill Cook, it became Cain Nelson Wares and Cook, then CNWC. The firm designed many large award-winning projects, including Tucson Community Center (in association with Friedman & Jobusch). They also designed Arizona Western College, Dennis Deconcini Border Station, U of A Math Building, Federal Building, Main Post Office, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, and expansions of Tucson Medical Center and St. Philip's Church to name just a few. Besides architecture, his interests included art, classical music, theatre, travel, birding and community improvement. He was active in the American Institute of Architects, serving as President of the Tucson and Arizona chapters. In 1981 he was awarded a Fellowship in the AIA. He served on many boards of directors concerned with social and physical planning, and the cultural life of Tucson. He served as Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Convention Committee and Transportation Committee, president of the Tucson Museum of Art, the Yale Club, Tucson Community Council, and the Tucson Housing Foundation, vice-president of the Tucson Trade Bureau, Treasurer of the Tucson Symphony, and on the boards of Greenfields School, Holy Cross House, and the Old Pueblo Club. He served St. Philip's Church as Senior and Junior Warden, as well as its architect for over 20 years. Ned and Lois were married for thirty four years until Lois' death in 1981. Ned is survived by their children Susan, David and Sarah; seven grandchildren; David Howard; Nicholas, Ned, and William Nelson; and Christopher, Zachary and Catherine Waters, and one great-granddaughter, Neveah Nelson. Seven years after the death of Lois, Ned married Miriam Ketcham, Parish Administrator and Senior Warden at St. Philip's Church. He was stepfather to her five children, and step-grandfather to her 12 grandchildren. They were married for 20 wonderful years until her death in 2007. He shared his final happy years with his loving companion, Angel Voyatzis. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to The Community Food Bank, St. Philip's Church, or a charity of your choice. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church, 4440 N. Campbell Avenue at River Road, at 11:00 a.m. A reception will follow at the church.