Dr. James H. Nelson, associate professor of computer science at UNCW for 21 years passed away on January 10, 2002. Dr. Nelson worked at UNCW since 1980 before going on permanent disability in April 2001.

A native of Mississippi, Nelson received the B.E., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN. All of his degrees were in Electrical Engineering. Dr. Nelson taught courses in electronics, assembly language, digital logic and design, and computer architecture. He also spent part of his time as the computer systems administrator for the Department of Mathematical Sciences when it acquired and managed its own computing resources prior to a full-time staff person being hired for the position.

His greatest joy was instilling his passion and enthusiasm for the study of computing in his students. Dr. Nelson was often cited by graduating seniors for his significant impact on their education at UNCW. UNCW was extremely fortunate to have such a caring and genuinely committed person work with its students. Dr. Nelson made their experience at UNCW truly memorable.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Nelson, and survived by son, James Nelson, and daughter, Suzanne Lilygren. The burial was Monday, January 21, 2002 at SeaLawn Memorial in Hampstead, NC.

The family requests donations be made in Dr. Nelson’s honor to UNCW Division for University Advancement in care of the James H. Nelson Memorial Fund, 601 S. College Rd., Wilmington, NC 28403.