Gunnard Alan Austin-Nelson, Jr.
West Lebanon, NH – Gunnard Alan Austin-Nelson, affectionately known as
Al Nelson, passed away peacefully on September 24, 2025 surrounded by
loved ones. Born on April 12, 1935, in New Britain, Connecticut, Al
lived a life rich in experience, intellect, and heart.
A proud graduate of Mooreland Hill School in Kensington, CT, then
Middlesex School in Concord, MA, Al went on to graduate from Yale
College, where his academic pursuits were briefly paused for service
in the U.S. Army 11th Airborne, where he saw action as a medic in the
Korean War. He later received a graduate degree from Princeton
University. His life was filled with a remarkable range of vocations
and passions-he was a lumberjack and owner of Middlesex Wood Co., a
police officer in New Britain, CT, a professor of English and Latin at
Dartmouth College, and a beloved teacher, dean, and coach at Middlesex
School during his 28-year tenure there.
Al was a true Renaissance man. He was a member of the Yale football
team and gained the lifelong distinction of scoring a touchdown
against Harvard in his freshman year. He was also a Minor League
baseball player, a devoted lover of music, and a fierce and tireless
chess competitor-never letting his grandchildren win a match, no
matter how hard they tried. He was also the undeniable star of
countless theatrical productions at Middlesex, captivating audiences
with his commanding stage presence and love for performance.
Al had a deep appreciation for language and literature. He could
effortlessly quote passages from 18th-century British literature and
was a lifelong lover of Latin. He found joy in playing the piano and
engaging in spirited games of bridge with friends and family. A model
train enthusiast at heart, Al delighted in constructing elaborate G
Scale Garden train layouts both inside and outside his home, bringing
whimsy and wonder to all who visited. But he may be most remembered by
his family and friends for his love of hosting creative and memorable
celebrations, concerts, and parties.
His intellect was matched only by his warmth, generosity, merrymaking,
and wit, and he was an authentic feminist long before it was
fashionable.
Al was predeceased by his first wife, Susan Twichell Nelson, and is
survived by his wife of more than 20 years, Marilyn Austin-Nelson. He
leaves behind a legacy of love and wisdom through his children: Connie
Nelson-White of Quechee, VT; Kimberly Lander (Jesse Lander) of South
Bend, IN; Karen Tassinari (Roberta Tassinari) of Hillsboro, OR; son
Jay Nelson of Waltham, MA; and his stepdaughters, Emily Baldwin of New
London, NH, and Rebecca Baldwin South Orange, NJ. Al was a proud
grandfather to eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, and
big brother (“Big Al”) to two sisters and three brothers, all of whom
survive him.
He was larger than life-an adventurer, a scholar, a family man, and a
mentor to many. His presence will be deeply missed, but his spirit
will live on in the stories, laughter and love he shared with all who
knew him.
A celebration of life will be planned for a future date.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Al’s memory can be made to Middlesex
School, 1400 Lowell Road, Concord, MA 10742.
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