NELSON BRITTO

1931 - 2022

BRITTO Nelson Britto July 15, 1931-March 10, 2022 Nelson Britto was born the youngest of eight in New Bedford, MA to Portuguese immigrants. At 17, he moved to Washington, DC to live with his sisters. While a student at Georgetown University, he worked at the soda fountain in People's Drug, and found lifelong friends playing cards with classmates. At a party after his junior year, he met Kay Martin. She asked if he had graduated. He deadpanned, "No. I failed." She would fall for his bluffs for the first 20 years of their marriage. To support their family, Nelson worked for IBM. In the 1980's, he traveled frequently, and developed an appreciation for the ingenuity of the staff in Prague and for Czech beer on draft. In retirement, Nelson and Kay moved to Wrightsville Beach, NC. Nelson often gave fresh tomatoes to beachgoers passing by. In June, Nelson and Kay moved to Ashby Ponds in Loudoun, VA to be near family. Nelson was proud of his Portuguese heritage, his Jesuit education, and most of all, the family he shared with Kay. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mary Martin (Kay) Britto and their children: Greg and his wife Laura, Maria, Mark and his wife Jennifer, Jamie and his partner Barbara ter Haar, Kathleen and her husband Edward Schaaf. He is survived by his grandchildren: Matt and his wife Hannah, Michelle and her fiancé John Muller, Antonio, and Alex; and by his great grandson Weston, three generations of nieces and nephews, and many dear friends. Nelson will be remembered for his mischievous humor, his generosity, and his devotion to family and faith. An interment service at St. Mary's in Fairfax, VA will be held later this spring. Memorial contributions may be made to the Families-in-Need fund at Park View High School. Nelson saw himself in the hardworking students his daughter Kathleen taught there. This gift is also to honor the young employees of Ashby Ponds who treated Nelson with exceptional kindness in the final year of his life. Checks may be mailed to Park View High School, Attn: M Cruz, 400 W Laurel Ave, Sterling, VA 20164. Please write "Britto" on the memo line. Electronic gifts may be submitted to the Park View Donation Account at https://osp.osmsinc.com/LoudounVA/">osp.osmsinc.com/LoudounVA/. Please type"Britto" in the description field. Memorial contributions may be made to the Families-in-Need fund at Park View High School. Nelson saw himself in the hardworking students his daughter Kathleen taught there. This gift is also to honor the young employees of Ashby Ponds who treated Nelson with exceptional kindness in the final year of his life. Checks may be mailed to Park View High School, Attn: M Cruz, 400 W Laurel Ave, Sterling, VA 20164. Please write "Britto" on the memo line. Electronic gifts may be submitted to the Park View Donation Account at https://osp.osmsinc.com/LoudounVA/. Please type"Britto" in the description field.