Remembering Nellie

John "Nellie" Nelson

I was completely shocked and saddened by the news today that my friend, Pacific Lutheran University coach John "Nellie" Nelson, passed away at the age of 44.  But the word coach is where the similarities end for Nellie when comparing him to others in the coaching profession - and for anyone blessed to be walking around on two feet for that matter.  You see, Nellie was a quadriplegic; confined to his wheel chair and paralyzed from the neck down.  He was born in Singapore with the disease Arthrogyrposis, but that didn't do a thing to his heart, which was made of solid gold and impacting the lives of everyone he came into contact with.  

YOU CAN VIEW A GREAT TRIBUTE TO NELLIE FROM NORTHWEST CABLE NEWS RIGHT HERE.

I first met Nellie many years ago when he attended his first PLU football game.  I was probably only 10 years old.  At the time, he was suffering from depression and struggled with confidence.  He didn't fit in, and was even contemplating suicide at the time.  During the game he had been impressed by the passion of the players - but it was their attitudes after the game that most affected him.  PLU had lost on the scoreboard, yet the players still wore smiles and shared at a special post-game gathering called Afterglow.  It was enough to move Nellie to speak, and he opened his heart to the team.  Suddenly he found acceptance - and something bigger than himself.

My grandfather, head coach Frosty Westering, took Nellie in as part of the family and a crucial member of the team.  I'm sure Frosty never even thought twice about it - but the effect on the program and on a single human being probably will never be fully appreciated.  Nellie began attending practices, and soon was a fixture wherever PLU players gathered.  In 1999, the year my brother led PLU to the National Championship, Nellie was made an honorary coach.  His specialty was working with the Freshmen, helping them adjust to life away from home.  Somehow over the course of befriending Nellie, the young Lutes would learn to be unselfish and to see people for their hearts and not for their physical characteristics.

You can only begin to imagine how the PLU Community feels about his loss, and it is surreal to see his Facebook page fill with memories from those who loved him.

To me, Nellie was a friend and an inspiration.  His constant sense of humor made me smile.  His dedication to the team made me want to be a better leader myself.  And his gentle spirit will always be remembered.  In short, he was an inspiration.  Thanks for making the world a better place Nellie - and for touching my life in more ways than you know!

~ J. Twice