Saugus veterans group leader David Nelson passes at 71; funeral services set for today

  Area veterans were among the friends who went to the Bisbee-Porcella Funeral Home yesterday to pay their respects to the late David John Aloysius Nelson. Nelson, 71, a Saugus resident and a Vietnam War Era veteran who served as American Legion Post 210’s financial officer, died Monday (Nov. 29).

  “Dave was an integral part of the veterans community here in Saugus and beyond,” Saugus Veterans Council Commander Stephen L. Castinetti said.

  “He was a State Officer for the Massachusetts American Legion, he managed the finances of the Cpl. Scott J. Procopio Saugus American Legion, he was a valued and contributing member of the Saugus Veterans Council and he was also a volunteer for the USO at Logan Airport,” said Castinetti, a retired U.S. Navy captain. “You never saw Dave without a smile on his face and his levity was a unique asset that he used to lighten the moods of all with whom he interacted. His passing was a blow to all who knew him. He will be missed by all who knew him. RIP, Dave. Your memory will not fade in the minds of our Saugus Veterans.”

  Saugus Veterans’ Service Officer Jay Pinette called Nelson “a true gentleman” who “was very generous with his time and energy in a number of areas.”

  “Whether it was umpiring Little League games, serving with local and regional Veterans organizations, ministering at his church(es) or speaking glowingly about his loving family, you always knew that you could count on David’s big heart and generous nature,” Pinette said. “Most recently, I was serving with David on the committee that is coordinating the 2022 ‘Vietnam Era Veterans Roll to DC’. As always, David’s enthusiasm and dedication to our Veterans was on full display. He will be deeply missed.”

  School Committee Member Joseph “Dennis” Gould remembered Nelson as a friend and fellow veteran who collaborated with him on several projects. “David has been a dear friend for many years.

  “His family, wife Janice, Daughter Colleen and Son Michael plus his six grandkids were everything to him.

  “I loved him like a Brother and we worked many things together including the 2015 Veterans Appreciation Parade, Roll to DC twice and many K of C events.”

  Nelson leaves his wife, Janice (Rossetti) Nelson. They had been married for 49 years. Born in Everett, Nelson moved to Saugus in 1974. Besides being a longtime member of the American Legion, he belonged to the USO and was a past Grand Knight of the Saugus Knights of Columbus. He also was an umpire/coach for many years for the Saugus Little League as well as serving as a youth minister at both Blessed Sacrament Church in Saugus and Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Lynnfield. He was a proud veteran with the 182nd Infantry division of the National Guard.

  In addition to his wife, David Nelson leaves two children: Michael J. Nelson and his wife, Stacey, of Tewksbury, and Colleen M. Sullivan and her husband, Brian, of Walpole; six grandchildren, five sisters and many nieces and nephews.

  In lieu of flowers, donations in David’s memory may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at dana-farber.org or the Joe Andruzzi Foundation at joeandruzzifoundation.org.

  A funeral was set for today from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Bisbee-Porcella Funeral Home in Saugus, followed by a funeral mass in Blessed Sacrament Church (14 Summer St., Saugus) at 10 a.m. Burial was to be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett.