James F. Nash, 85, a 21-year resident of Riverside and a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., died May 17, 2011 at his home.
Mr. Nash served with honor in the European Theater during World War II. After the war he returned to New York and attended Mohawk College on the G.I. Bill and received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Brooklyn Polytechnic University.
He managed hundreds of large commercial construction projects in all five boroughs of New York City and then formed a partnership, Apex Erectors, which built and installed the antenna on the South Tower of the World Trade Center as well as many other projects.
In 1990, Mr. Nash and his wife, Clara, moved to Riverside, where he quickly became active in the community, including singing in the July 3 Chorus in Mary Park, the Barbershop Singers at Riverside Presbyterian Church and the choir at Ascension Lutheran Church, which he attended for the past 21 years. He also performed many times in recitals of the late Riverside voice teacher, Inez Crofts.
Mr. Nash was a member of the Riverside Lions Club, the Riverside Arts Center, the Frederick Law Olmsted Society and the Riverside Friends of the Library. Three of his greatest pleasures were meeting his many friends at Grumpy’s coffee shop, working as a project manager for Pierce Carpentry Co. in Brookfield and participating with vigor in the Riverside Presbyterian Church’s Men’s Forum every Tuesday evening.
He is survived by his wife, Clara; his children, Debi (Tullio) Bertoli, James (Ann) Nash, Connie Karsh, Pati Nash, Janet (Phil) Blottin and Ginger Nash; his grandchildren, Alex Bertoli, Peter Bertoli, Charlie Nash, Katie Nash, Danny Karsh, Madeline Williams, Reid Williams, Jessica Leisenring, John Leisenring, Stephen Blottin and Milo Nash-Wolf; his brother- and sister-in-law, Chuck and Jeannie Trampe; and his niece, Virginia King.
Visitation will be Friday, May 20 from 2 to 8 p.m. at Ivins/Moravecek Funeral Home, with a church service at Ascension Lutheran Church in Riverside on Saturday, May 21 at 11 a.m.
After cremation, Mr. Nash’s remains will be buried at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, N.Y.
Memorial donations are appreciated to Ascension Lutheran Church, 400 Nuttall Road, Riverside, Ill. 60546.
