W. Ripley Nelson - A Tribute

W. Ripley Nelson

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"RIPLEY HAS GONE". This was sad news to those of us at the Historical Association who knew him so well. Yet, of course, it was inevitable because he has been in failing health for so long and only the wonderful care given him by his devoted wife, Barbara, kept his weakening heart from stopping.

Yet, in a sense, he will never go from us. So much of what we are doing is an outgrowth of his vision and planning.

He arrived at every meeting of the Association with a brief case full of information. As the expression goes, "he did his homework" and sold his ideas with proof rather than pressure.

The Historical Association was only one of his many endeavors to make Nantucket the charming community he envisioned. He would not want to claim credit alone for any of his accomplishments, yet he did so much to initiate and guide through the difficult start, programs for new trees, lifeguards at the beaches, Conservation, Historic District, Poison Ivy Control, Family Counseling, Civic League, Planning Board, and many others. His advice was sought by and freely given to a number of established businesses and young people about to embark on a new career.

He constantly wrote for the Association. He started Historic Nantucket in 1954 and now, nearly 10,000 copies are mailed out each year. His booklet, "The Nantucket Whaling Museum," is still in great demand. Many other booklets and articles he wrote are in use or others have replaced them, based upon his research and writing.

Ripley Nelson has left many monuments which will be of value for generations to come. It can be truthfully said that the things he did touched and improved the lives of every one of us. He was a great and good man.