Obituary of Erling Carleton Nord

Erling Carleton Nord, of Chester, passed away on March 8, 2014 at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown. He was the beloved husband of Dorothy (Rose) Nord. Erl was born on January 20, 1921 in Medford, MA the son of Carl George Nord and Gullia Lundberg Nord. In 1923 the family moved to Roslindale MA where he grew up. Following service during WWII in the Army Air Corps, he attended Tufts University graduating in 1950 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He often expressed gratitude that he was able to attend Tufts because of the GI Bill. In 1947 he met Dorothy Janet Rose at a Congregational Fellowship Meeting in West Roxbury, Massachusetts and he immediately identified her as the partner he wanted in life. They were married in 1950. After a brief time in Providence they moved to Ivoryton, Connecticut, where he was employed by Pratt Read, and later for 25 years by Schellens True, as Facilities Manager. In 1962 Erl, Dorothy, and their three young children moved to Prospect Street in Essex where they lived for more than fifty years. In 2011 Erl and Dorothy moved to Chester Village West. Erl was very active in the community, serving in numerous positions at The First Congregational Church of Essex, as member and president of the board of The Valley Shore YMCA, board member and president of Literacy Volunteers, president of The Lower Valley Industrial Management Club, a founding member and president of The Ancient Order of Essex Weeders, as well as being recognized as a 2,000 plus hour volunteer at Middlesex Hospital. He also served as a volunteer Construction Manager when the new Essex Fire House was developed. Erl was an avid tennis player and was a founding member of the Old Saybrook Racquet Club. As an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Essex he was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship Award, which is presented to individuals who meet high professional and personal standards. Erl always derived great pleasure from meeting new people and helping others. Most of all he deeply loved and respected his wife and life partner Dorothy with whom he celebrated their 63rd anniversary last October. They had a son Carl and his wife Anne (Kenyon) of Killingworth, a daughter Andrea and her husband Harry Tankin of Yardley, PA, and a daughter Lisa and her husband Lance Zack of Albany NH. His family also included his grandchildren Elizabeth Zack, Noah Tankin, as well as Holly and Lindsay Nord. Aside from his parents, he was predeceased by his sister Edith Peterson. He also leaves a brother, Otto Anderson of Bradford, Massachusetts. Donald and Alberta Morrison, formerly of Ivoryton and Westbrook, were close lifelong friends. The family would like to recognize and thank the staff of Aaron Manor and The Hospice and Palliative Care at Middlesex Hospital. A memorial service will be held at the First Congregational Church of Essex, 6 Methodist Hill in Essex on Saturday, March 15th at 2:00PM.