SARASOTA, FL – John Wallace Nash, 101 years old, formally of Westfield, MA, died in his home in Sarasota, Florida, of natural causes on July 28, 2013. He was surrounded by his devoted caregivers and his daughter and son-in-law.John was predeceased by his wife of 70 years, Helen Seale Nash; his daughter, Suzanne Wallace Nash and four siblings. He and Helen had made Sarasota their retirement home for many years after a career of publishing New England community newspapers. In addition to his daughter and her husband Claudia and Mike Hurley, Westfield, MA, he is survived by four grandchildren; Todd and John Hurley, sons of Claudia and Mike and Kristen Tudeen and Ingrid Brack, daughters of Suzanne. He is also survived by four great grandchildren; Alaina and Nathan Hurley are children of Todd and his wife Wendy, Seattle, Washington. Emily Hurley is the daughter of John and his wife Laurie, Reading, Massachusetts. Willow Rose is the daughter of Kristen and her husband Roy, of Roswell, Georgia. Willow Rose celebrated her first birthday on the day of her great grandfather’s passing.
John was born in Ridgefield, Connecticut, May 17, 1912. He was graduated from Ridgefield High School and pursued a passion for economics and accounting through correspondence courses. With the support and encouragement of Ridgefield businessmen, he and his brother Karl purchased the Ridgefield Press in 1937. Thus began his career of owning and publishing community newspapers in the northeast including Stamford, NY, Litchfield, CT, New Milford, CT, Winsted, CT and Westfield, MA. During his ownership of the Westfield News in the early 70’s, the paper was converted from a weekly to a daily newspaper.
John and Helen were members of the First Congregational Church of Westfield and enjoyed many friends in the area, especially as members of the Blandford Golf Club where John was an avid golfer. They spent increasing amounts of time in Florida and eventually retired to Sarasota permanently. John was a proud member of “the greatest generation”. He served in the US Army in the Phillipines during World War II. He told stories of living through the depression, saving scrupulously, working hard, being self taught and self reliant. He researched and studied the stock market and shared his knowledge with various investment committees, including that of the First Congregational Church in Westfield.
A memorial service to celebrate his life was held at the Toale Brothers Gulf Gate Chapel, on Wednesday, July 31. He will be buried in Ridgefield, CT where there will be a family gathering.
Contributions in honor of his memory may be made to the Salvation Army or to the charity of one’s choice.
