To my “little” brother Rod. It was an honor to have shared life with you.
The Nelson Family wants to thank all those who supported our son and brother throughout his life. Particularly at this time we express our appreciation to: Darlene Henry Washington, Iris King and Anthony Napoleon.
I wanted to share some of our memories of our brother’s life, Rodney Don Nelson.
My oldest sister Carolyn remembers when my parents brought him home from the hospital in Puerto Rico, premature and three and a-half pounds. We were not allowed to touch him.
From a tiny baby he fought to become a grown man.
Rod did many different things – joined the army, traveled around the United States, lived in Seattle, then returned home to Connecticut. Rod tried to take advantage of every situation he was in and helped people.
During his dark years in prison, he learned how to read and write as he was dyslexic (he had a high school diploma, but the system failed him). In prison, he even took college classes, developing his love for poetry and art. He participated in presentations to help young people avoid lives of crime. He also nurtured his Christian faith, the foundation of which was laid as a youthful worshiper at Emanuel Lutheran Church. He told me just a few weeks ago he was a Lutheran and wanted the pastor at his service – so thank you Pastor Corgan for officiating today.
Rod helped lots of people: people who needed something to eat; people who needed a place to stay; people who needed their walk shoveled, people who needed a person to listen to them — knew they just needed to call Rod.
Rod liked to fix things. Any day would find four or five projects in various states of repair in our basement, garage and porch. When he completed fixing something – a TV, an exercise machine, a radio, he would resell it or often give it way. He often found the most unique things to give as gifts to his family and friends. Many of us have unique gadgets at home Rod gave us saying this might be helpful while you …
Rod was always making and fixing bikes for neighborhood kids. Often kids came to the house looking for “the bike man.”
Rod was kind to animals, bringing home strays and nursing them to good health. The kitten Virginia, currently ruling the roost at 25 Keney Terrace, is just the latest example.
His dog, Ram, was his special friend with whom he shared the past seven
Sometimes there was nothing to write on, so he used toilet paper.
years. The last time I saw Rod alive was several weeks ago and Rod and Ram were walking together into the night on Vine Street.
Rod had the courage and the spirit of a warrior. He used his power and influence to protect his family in a very principled way, as our sister, Dee Dee says. His personal code of honor made him confront his adversaries man-to-man, fully realizing the risks and willing to accept the consequences for his actions to protect us.
Rod showed tremendous courage in the way he chose to leave this life. He made a conscious decision to endure the unimaginable pain associated with stopping his medication and fighting to die unrestrained and free. We all have many stories and experiences with Rod. I want to close with these words from our brother Dwain.
Dwain said, “Rod and I had a lot of adventures, some good and some not. Lots of times we had different opinions, but after all is said and done; he was my younger brother and I will always love him.”
So to Rodney Don Nelson, son, brother, uncle and father, I say “Ave et Vale – have a good journey and farewell. We love you.”
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Before Chinue read Rod’s poem during the program, she added:
My uncle loved and accepted you for exactly who you were and gave without looking to get in return, which is very rare.
My mother was in New York and someone painted graffiti on her van. He and my uncle Huck were looking at it trying to figure out how to remove it. As he walked away, I heard him mutter under his breath, “Nobody better mess with DeeDee when she’s in New York. I don’t want to have to go to New York – but I hear at least they let you smoke at Rikers.’”
This past Christmas Uncle Rod announced to all his nieces and nephews, “I am going to give you all the gift of life.”
He passed out all these plant cuttings that he had grown and he said, “I give everyone the gift of life. I grew these myself with love. Love it and take care of it and it will grow.” And so, he had given us all ‘the gift of life.”
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Feel free to enjoy my brother’s art and poetry from his book “The Open Times of My Life, I Have A Dream” or very simply put, Rod’s Poetry.
