Peter Nelson Obituary

Peter Nelson attended Malden High School in Malden, MA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Peter Nelson.

Graduation Year	Class of 1964
Date of Passing	Nov 02, 2017
About	Nichols Funeral Home, Inc., 187 Middlesex Ave., (Rte. 62), Wilmington, MA 01887, Phone: 978.658.47, November 3rd, 2017 Attorney Peter Nelson, age 71, of Wilmington, passed away on November 2, 2017. Peter is survived by his beloved wife, Karen Shine Nelson, with whom he enjoyed golf, travel, cooking and entertaining. He also leaves his two children: his dear son Matthew Nelson of Wilmington and his daughter Elizabeth Maas of NY. Although an only child of the late Arthur and Winifred (Pirie) Nelson, Peter was part of a large clan of countless cousins. He will be missed by his best friend, Bob Horner of Milford and his buddies at the Middlesex Central Model Railroad Club in Westford. Born in Malden, he often shared stories of his childhood years there. One of Peter’s favorite memories of Malden was a Thanksgiving dinner at Peter Pelosi’s grandmother’s house, Mrs. Guiffre, when he was a teen. Mrs. Guiffre always had a big pot of “gravy” on the stove, and Peter was looking forward to a great meal. He described the many courses which kept appearing – the escarole soup, the stuffed artichokes, the ravioli and meatballs, and how he filled his plate and stuffed himself . . . and then to his surprise the turkey came out of the kitchen along with a full traditional American Thanksgiving dinner. A teenage boy’s delight! Peter could be a bit contrary, and loved a good debate based on principle. Therefore, when his version of the history of the Merrimack & the Monitor, early ironclad ships in the most important battle of the American Civil War, varied from the high school teacher’s version, “strong words were said” and Peter could not graduate with the Malden High School class of 1964. His parents Arthur & Winnie, of modest means, had to fork over the funds to Newman prep to complete Peter’s high schooling. After Malden High School & Newman prep, Peter attended Northeastern University studying engineering before joining the Navy. He was injured in a car accident while on duty, spent a year in Memphis Naval Hospital and Chelsea Soldiers Home, and when declared disabled was honorably discharged in 1970. This allowed him to afford Windham College in Putney, Vermont from which he graduated with a degree in history. Peter then attended a graduate program in history at University of California at Santa Barbara, and transferred to the University of Miami Law School, from which he graduated with a JD. He spent most of his career as a commercial real estate development attorney in Boston working for Cabot, Cabot & Forbes and Bulfinch Development, and later served in other roles at Lahey Clinic research, the FDIC and the IRS. One of the great joys of his life was the camaraderie he enjoyed on the “lads weekends” sailing out of Tiverton, Rhode Island with Frank Spain, Larry Antin, Todd Anderson and Geoffrey Smyth, all of whom pre-deceased him and for whom Peter never ceased an accumulated mourning for them. His wife Karen was glad that he always sailed OPB (other peoples’ boats) and that they didn’t own one. Family and friends will gather for Visitation at the Nichols Funeral Home, Inc., 187 Middlesex Ave., (Rte. 62), Wilmington on Monday, November 6th from 11:00 – 1:00 p.m., followed by a Funeral Service with Military Honors at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations in Peter’s name may be made to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan Street, B-102, Danvers, MA 01923.