Fr. Frank Nelson, C.Ss.R., Obituary

Rev. Frank Nelson, C.Ss.R., a member of the St. John Neumann community at Stella Maris, Timonium, Maryland, died on May 16, 2022, age 84 and three months. 
 

He was born on February 23, 1938, in Boston, the son of Francis P. and Gertrude (Clarke). He was baptized on March 13, 1938, and confirmed on June 5, 1949, at the Mission Church, Boston, where he also attended the parish school.
 

He attended St. Mary’s Preparatory Seminary from 1952 to 1958. He professed temporary vows on August 2, 1959, at St. Mary’s, Ilchester, MD, and perpetual vows on September 2, 1962, at Mt. St. Alphonsus, Esopus, NY, where he was also ordained to the priesthood on June 21, 1964. 
 

He received his BA in 1961 and MRE in 1965 from the Mount. He completed his second novitiate at St. Mary’s, Annapolis from 1965 to 1966.
 

Most of Father Nelson’s assignments were in the Baltimore Province: Sacred Heart of Jesus, Baltimore from 1966 to 1967; St. Philomena’s, Pittsburgh from 1967 to 1974; Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Ephrata, PA from 1974 to 1981; Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Ilchester, MD where he was the rector from 1981 to 1987. He was assigned to the Provincial Residence, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Brooklyn, NY from 1987 to 2005 as procurator, that is, as the finance officer of the Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province. In 2005 he was transferred to the Vice-Province of Richmond and served at Sacred Heart Parish in New Smyrna Beach, Florida from 2005 to 2020. For reasons of health, he was transferred to St. John Neumann Residence on November 16, 2020.
 

While stationed in Pittsburgh, and in his role as minister of the house, Father Nelson got to know a Coca-Cola delivery man who also happened to moonlight as the timekeeper for the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team. Father Nelson often conversed with him but didn’t realize he had a side job. It happened that one night, Fr. Nelson went to a Penguins game. They were playing Fr. Nelson’s favored Boston Bruins. In a chance encounter, he met a well-dressed individual who was not immediately recognized. It was the timekeeper, who offered to take the priest down to meet the Penguins team. He wasn’t terribly interested in the Penguins; being from Boston, his team was the Bruins. But gradually he got to know the players and did so in such a friendly and easy way that they made him the unofficial chaplain of the team. Father Nelson got to know their wives and families and even brought a few into the Church. One player offered to make an introduction to Bobby Orr, but Father Nelson wasn’t particularly interested…until the player’s wife told him: “He wanted to show you off to Bobby Orr, to boast that he had you for a friend!” 
 

Eternal rest grant unto FRANK, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May FRANK’s soul and the souls of all the faithful departed thru the mercy of God Rest in Peace.  Amen.
 

Fr. Frank Nelson’s Funeral Information:

Tuesday, May 24th Viewing at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 25th at 10 a.m. Funeral Mass

Viewing and Funeral Mass at OLPH (Mission) Church; 1545 Tremont Street; Boston, MA 02120
 

Burial to follow