ROBERT A. NASH, JR. age 87. Beloved husband of 64 years to Louise (nee Hazard); father of Robert III, James (Deanne), Kathy Nash and Tom (Cora); grandfather of Miles and Griffin; brother of Peggy Miller (Dick) and the late Jack; uncle of Maureen and Christel. Passed away May 15, 2021

Bob passed late Saturday night May 15 in his home in Avon Lake, OH. He was 87.

Bob and Louise, his wife of 64 years who survives him, raised a family of three boys and a girl in Trenton, MI, Duluth, MN and Yokohama, Japan before settling in the Cleveland area, where he retired in 1996.

Bob was born Robert Arthur Nash Jr., on Aug. 7, 1933 in Milton, MA. That's when his love of the Boston Red Sox first started and he was a lifelong fan.

Growing up In Toledo, he made friends at Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) grade school that he maintained and treasured for life. He graduated from Toledo Central Catholic High School and quickly joined the Navy during the Korean War.  Bob was very proud of the time in the Navy and enjoyed the respect he got when wearing his Navy hat.

Still in the Navy on shore leave, he met Louise Hazard on a blind date set up by his best friend, the late Dan Billmaier.  A four-year courtship ensued, and they married on January 12, 1957.

At the end of the Korean War, Bob left the Navy and started his Great Lakes shipping career shoveling coal to fire the boilers of a ship built around the time of the SS Titanic. He started out literally at the bottom, in the bowels of the ship shoveling coal into the boiler. It was brutal work.  He quickly rose through the ranks in the engine department, eventually becoming a licensed first engineer.

In November 1957, Bob was on a ship in Duluth when he learned he was a new father. He quit the ship and never sailed again. He landed a shore job with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), a non-profit organization, that allowed him to stay in the field he loved – ships – while being home to raise a family.

He went on to become a respected marine engineer and played a role in the transition to far larger vessels no longer powered by men with shovels.  His job was to ensure that new ships were built to standards that made them seaworthy and that damaged ships were repaired to the same standards.  He said he always evaluated whether or not he would feel safe for his own sons or daughters to travel on a given ship. Ships didn't sail unless he verified they could.

In 1969 he was offered a transfer from Duluth to Yokohama. His company was anticipating the construction of 1,000-foot ships on the Great Lakes, the biggest ever built on the lakes, and wanted a man with Great Lakes experience to gain knowledge from the massive oil tankers being built at that time in Japan, and to bring that knowledge back. Which he did. Through this international relocation, the Nash family enjoyed seeing all parts of the globe and gaining an appreciation for other people and cultures that they carry to this day.

Bob brought his family back to the United States in the mid 1970s, working in the Cleveland office of ABS and setting family roots in Northeast Ohio where he would spend his remaining years.  He worked the rest of his career for ABS before retiring in 1996 as Principal Surveyor for the Great Lakes.

During retirement Bob and Louise enjoyed traveling and spending time with their family across the country.  Visits to California found them enjoying drives along the coast and lively political discussions with their eldest son Bob.  Ohio winters gave Bob and Louise the opportunity to visit his sister Peggy and spend time in the pool in Fort Myers. During visits to Colorado, Bob shared his passion for engineering with his grandchildren by building and running model steam engines. Bob could also be found at a variety of road race courses across the midwest, acting as Crew chief and head mechanic  supporting his son Jim's love of auto racing.  While at home in Ohio, Bob loved working on a variety of projects with Kathy and always enjoyed a Highball on the patio.

Bob loved a good Red Sox game. He tried to make all three games when they came to Cleveland regardless of how inclement the weather might be.  Bob celebrated his 80th birthday on the field at Fenway Park with his children.   Bob was also very proud of his Irish Heritage. He flew the Irish flag for all celebrations and loved a good Tommy Machen and Clancy Brothers tune.

Quick with a smile and an encouraging word, Bob was a loving soul who shared his light with friends and strangers alike.  His passion for life was contagious and will be missed by those around him.

Funeral Mass Monday, May 24, Church of St. Clarence (30106 Lorain Rd.) at 10:00 AM. Friends may call at CHAMBERS FUNERAL HOME of NORTH OLMSTED, 29150 LORAIN RD. AT STEARNS SUNDAY 3-6 PM. (Face masks are optional). In lieu of flowers contributions to Connecting for Kids, P.O. Box 45372
Westlake, OH 44145. https://connectingforkids.org/donate