Richard Melville Nash, Jr.
Richard Melville Nash, Jr. passed on to his heavenly home on May 11, 2023 in Santa Barbara, California with his loving wife and daughters at his side. He was born in New Orleans to Richard Melville Nash, Sr. and Annie Lloyd Nash, and he grew up just across the river in the small community of Mc Donoghville.
At Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, he played basketball and football, contributed to the school newspaper, graduated with academic honors, and was inducted into the National Honor Society.
At Tulane University, Richard was active in the Middle American Research Institute, the Pan American Society, and Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He majored in Economics, with special studies in Latin American Affairs, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He loved tennis and won the Tulane intramural singles championship in 1950.
In 1952, Richard received his Ensign commission from the Navy Officers Candidate School in Newport, R.I. He also completed US Naval Justice School there in 1953. He served three years aboard the USS Kermit Roosevelt operating out of Sasebo, Japan. Lieutenant J G Nash received the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, and the Commanding Officer Letter of Commendation. His last active duty assignment was as staff to the Commandant of the 8th Naval District in New Orleans.
Richard joined the Pan American Airways Guided Missile Range (PAA GMR) Division as Operation Manager on Grand Bahama Island (GBI). He was appointed Base Manager on St. Lucia in the British West Indies to prepare for the return of the United States military hospital operations to Great Britain. Richard was assigned back to GBI as Base Manager while on his honeymoon, and a few months later, he was able to return to Florida as Pan American Base Manager at Cape Canaveral, accompanied by his bride Carol.
In 1960, Richard was recruited to bring the NASA program to the West Coast. He came to California and opened the NASA office on South Vandenberg AFB and continued in management operations at Vandenberg until his retirement in 1994.
Over 30 years, Richard received numerous NASA honors. In 1991, he was called back to Cape Canaveral to receive the award he appreciated most: “As Chief of Installation Support for the Kennedy Space Center at VAFB, Richard M. Nash, Jr. is presented the NASA Exceptional Service Medal for recognition of achievement in managing all administrative aspects of the Kennedy Space Center, VAFB Office.”
Following Richard’s retirement, the Nashes continued residency in Lompoc. Richard enjoyed family and community activities. He was a man of deep faith and member of Bethany Lutheran Church. He served on the boards of the Vandenberg Village Concerned Citizens and the Space Endeavor Camp in Lompoc, and was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Citizens Planning Association of Santa Barbara County.
Richard is survived by Carol Fitzpatrick Nash, his wife of 66 years, daughter Greta Ann Nash of the San Francisco Bay Area, daughter Carol Ellen Nash and her husband Robert L. Jarecki of Albuquerque, NM, and granddaughter Laurel Nash Jarecki of Albuquerque, NM. He was loved and admired by his family, who appreciated his unfailing kindness and wisdom. His good nature and intellect will be greatly missed.
The family invites friends to attend a memorial service for Richard at Bethany Lutheran Church in Lompoc on Saturday, August 17th at 2:00 PM. A private burial service was held at graveside in the Santa Barbara Cemetery on June 2, 2023. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Bethany Lutheran Church or a charitable organization of choice.