Stephen Douglas Nelson

Stephen Douglas Nelson was born September 1, 1943, in Hays, KS to Kenneth Alfred and Sylvia Dorothy Juliet Mattson Nelson. Steve graduated from Topeka High, Kansas State University, and the University of Michigan where he received his Ph.D. in Social Psychology. At KSU he was active in the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, Blue Key Honor Society, and College Quiz Bowl (where his encyclopedic memory was put to good use!). In 1966, Steve married Gloria Bartholomew of Alton, KS. The couple moved to Ann Arbor, MI, where he completed graduate school and worked at the Institute for Social Research. In 1977 they moved to a Annandale, VA, a suburb of Washington, D.C., where they have lived for the last 37 years. They had one daughter, Dana, born in 1980. In D.C., Steve worked at the American Psychological Association and The Institute of Medicine/The National Academies, and he had just retired after 28 years of service from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) where he was a Senior Advisor on Science and Technology Policy. He was the longest serving director of AAAS' Congressional Fellow's Program. Steve was a wonderful father and was actively engaged in his community through his involvement in Dana's childhood activities. He served in the Truro community as starter for the children's swim team, judge for the dive team, and co-parent rep for the dive team. He and Dana were active in the YMCA Indian Princess Program (a father-daughter organization) and he assisted in coaching her softball team. He loved music and was an accomplished pianist, having taken piano lessons at Bethany College, in Lindsborg, KS during his pre-college years. He also loved reading and learning throughout his life. He and Gloria enjoyed adventure travel, and together they had been to over 60 foreign countries and to 48 states of the USA. Steve passed away unexpectedly on January 15, 2014 at the age of 70 while traveling with Gloria in Myanmar (formerly Burma). During the trip he contracted a respiratory virus and suffered an acute severe bronchial asthma attack. Prior to becoming ill, he was having a wonderful time traveling and celebrating his recent retirement. Steve is survived and will be greatly missed by his wife, Gloria B. Nelson of Annandale, VA; his daughter, Dana Lea B. Nelson of State College, PA; his sister, Karyl Sue Sylken of Portland, ME; his brother, Robert R. Nelson of Holyoke, MA; his niece, Anne M. Nelson of Washington, D.C.; and many other relatives and friends. A Kansas Memorial Service celebrating Steve's life will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2014, at the Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Stockton, KS. A Virginia/Washington, D.C. Memorial Celebration will be scheduled later. The family requests no flowers. Memorial contributions may be made to the Stephen D. Nelson Memorial Scholarship Fund which is being established to support music education for pre-college age students at Bethany College, in Lindsborg, KS. The scholarship will be used to assist gifted students with financial need in purchasing their piano music. Memorial contributions can be sent to the Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 1st Street, Stockton, Kansas 67669. A website of pictures with opportunity to share memories and condolences is available at http://stephen.d.nelson.muchloved.com/ and also at www.plumeroverlease.com