The City of Cambridge’s flags are flying at half mast to commemorate a former mayor and one of the last surviving members of the city’s first council.
At the beginning of Tuesday evening’s council meeting, Mayor Jan Liggett announced Erwin Nelson had died over the weekend at the age of 93 at Saint Luke’s Place.
“Erwin’s contributions and service to our community have become part of the fabric of our city,” said Liggett in a press release. “His involvement in business, politics, and volunteerism is a testament to his energy and love for Cambridge. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.”
Nelson had held many local political positions in his lifetime including reeve of Hespeler in 1959 and then from 1962 to 1971, Cambridge Alderman on the first city council post-amalgamation from 1973 to 1976 representing Ward 14, a regional councillor from 1975 to 1976 and then as the third mayor of Cambridge from 1977 to 1979.
Current regional councillor and former Cambridge mayor Doug Craig said he first sat on council during Nelson’s mayoral term which he said was fairly short due to the two-year terms which didn’t allow for a lot of time for municipal politicians.
“I think his legacy would be pointing out the fact that Cambridge needed a bypass and he worked on trying to get that set-up,” Craig said.
At the time, the most easterly boundary was Franklin Boulevard which served this function although Craig said that’s not really the case any longer.
“He was a Hespeler councillor for years and represented the community in Hespeler very well and brought that to regional council,” Craig said.
In addition to his professional and political life, Erwin was deeply involved in the community. He managed minor hockey teams in Hespeler, was an active member of the Kiwanis Club, and held numerous political roles over the years.
He had also established Nelson Funeral Home in Hespeler, operating it until his retirement in 1996 and continued to help for many years following the business changing hands.
Liggett said he was a founding president of the board of directors for Saint Luke’s Place where he had lived for the past 25 years.
“He remained passionate about the facility’s future and looked forward to its expansion,” Liggett said.
Saint Luke’s Place, a long-term care facility and seniors’ living community, is working on an expansion project of 192-bed long-term care addition.
“The Saint Luke’s Place Board of Directors and staff are saddened to hear of the passing of Erwin Nelson,” said David Bakker, CEO of Saint Luke’s Place in the press release.
“Erwin was the first Chair of the Board of Directors in 1976 and also chaired the 1972 Planning Committee. On behalf of the Board, we recognize his original vision to bring long-term care to the Cambridge community and his enduring dream of expanding that care through redevelopment. Our thoughts and prayers are with Erwin’s family during this difficult time.”
His obituary said his family is asking for donations to the Saint Luke’s Place Building Fund in lieu of flowers.
Flags will be flown at half mast at city facilities for three days.
