Elliot Nelson
Elliot Nelson, of Canton, MA formerly of Brewster, MA, Westfield, NJ, and Brooklyn, NY died peacefully on Friday, January 10th two weeks after celebrating his 95th birthday with his loving family. Elliot was born on December 25, 1929 to Elsie (Yaffee) and Nathaniel (Ned) Nelson in Brooklyn, NY. He attended Johns Hopkins as an undergraduate, and graduated from Chicago Medical School in 1956. Following a residency, Elliot joined his father in practice as an ophthalmologist in Borough Park, Brooklyn where he was revered by his patients for more than 40 years. He was past-President of the Brooklyn Ophthalmological Society.
Elliot was an avid sailor and spent frequent summer days sailing aboard his boat, the Sonata. He loved taking friends and family out on the boat, first on Long Island Sound, and later on Buzzards Bay. He would share his love of charts and winds with anyone that cared to join him.
Elliot was fortunate to travel and took great pleasure in experiencing different cultures and learning to speak other languages. He spent his first year of medical school in Leiden, The Netherlands, where he lived with a family with whom he remained in touch until the end of his life. Another meaningful travel experience occurred in 1963 when he spent a month volunteering in a surgical clinic in Haiti. In addition to enjoying travel with his wife to many countries, favorites being Japan, Polynesia, Suriname, Israel, and Ireland, it is not surprising that many family vacations involved being aboard a sailboat in the Caribbean.
Elliot was most proud of his family; his wife of more than 59 years, Nancy (Brooks), his adoring daughters, Elissa Sherman and Lori Chesloff, their husbands, Adam Sherman and Jondavid Chesloff and his four grandchildren, Alexander Sherman, Marley Sherman, Sadie Chesloff and Tessa Chesloff. He took immense joy spending time with his family whether walking along the Brewster flats, celebrating holidays and birthdays or watching his children and grandchildren participate in their various sports and performances. Elliot was also the loving older brother to C. Richard (Dick) Nelson of Palm Beach Garden, FL.
Elliot was a kind and gentle man, and he and Nancy were always surrounded by close friends throughout their lives in Brooklyn, Westfield, Cape Cod and especially in the last six years at Orchard Cove.
Funeral service Monday, January 13, 2025 at 10 am in the Chapel at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA. Burial to follow.
Shiva will be Monday, January 13, 2025 from 3-5 pm at Orchard Cove, 1 Del Pond Drive, Canton, MA.
Remembrances may be made to the Orchard Cove Scholarship Fund, or to the charity of one’s choice.