Robert Louis Nelson

Robert Louis Nelson was born in 1929 in Brooklyn, NY. He was the son of Julius Katznelson of Slutzk, Belarus and Bella Kalish, from Szerednye, Hungary. Bob was obsessed with airplanes and flight from an early age. He graduated at the top of his class at DeWitt Clinton High School in 1947, then enrolled at Purdue University where he graduated in 1951 with a B.S in General Science. In addition to a concentration in aeronautical engineering, Bob earned a minor in English, was in the Modern Dance Club and contributed to the University’s art and culture magazine.

Following graduation, Bob was drawn to the Golden State where he launched his aerospace career, first at Rocketdyne in Southern California before joining Lockheed Aircraft in Sunnyvale, CA in 1957. At Lockheed, Bob met the lifelong friends who became his surrogate West Coast family - enjoying ski trips in the Sierras and long lunches at Rossotti's. It was also when he met a beautiful, independent and compassionate Stanford nurse, Patricia, who shared his love of music, art and dinners with dear friends at L’Omelette. Bob and Patricia were married in 1962 in a lovely garden in Palo Alto. The following year they purchased one of the first homes in the new community of Foster City. Two daughters, Shana and Debra, arrived in 1967 and 1969. Bob spent the next 20 years outnumbered in his own home and perplexed by girl energy, but also delighted by the many friends (“gals and fellas”) his girls brought home who likewise adored “Mr. Nelson”. During these years Bob transitioned to a career in education after leaving Lockheed’s classified satellite program in the 1970s. He wrote and developed educational modules designed to introduce elementary school students to science and engineering concepts. These programs became California Learning Simulations, one of the early companies to offer STEM lessons to young students.

Also during the 1970s and 80s Bob helped shape the San Francisco Peninsula’s growing Jewish community. Inspired by two trips to “HaEretz” - as he called Israel - in 1963 and 1966, Bob began volunteering with the SF Jewish Federation. Bob and Patricia were among the founding members of Foster City’s Peninsula Sinai Congregation where they built enduring friendships. Fundraising and strategic planning meetings for the current Peninsula JCC were held in his Foster City living room before a single wall went up. Both daughters and their families continue his Jewish advocacy.

In 1995 and 1999, Bob welcomed his two beloved sons-in-law Adam Belsky (Debra) and David Middler (Shana) to the family. What followed were the happiest years of his life with the arrival of granddaughters Chloe and Hannah Middler and grandsons Jonah and Asher Belsky. Bob’s devotion to his grandchildren was complete and unconditional. He nurtured in them a love for the arts, education and social justice - setting them on their life paths in film, music, law and teaching. He truly lived the value of l’dor v’dor.

We will remember Bob as a renaissance man, expert pancake maker, model airplane builder, devoted husband, father, uncle and grandfather. He made the world a better place.