My mentor when I was a young man. My farther and I adored him as s friend. My deepest heart goes out for a great man.

When I started visiting the Lesnikowskis in the 1990’s, my father mentioned that he has an Army buddy on MV, and that I should look him up. After a missed connection, Anne called Nelson up, and he and my father got reacquainted. From then on, I made it a point to go visit Nelson each time I visited the island, and if he had time, he would show me his latest project. I cherish those moments, and will miss him dearly. Godspeed, Nelson. May your travels in old Jeeps go smoothly.

One of the nicest men I have ever known. My family has lived near DeBettencourts since the 1930's and had their car needs taken care of by Nelson, his father and all of his brothers- and now son- at one tine or another. i first recall meting Nelson about 1959 when my grandmother, Dorothy Darling, found me a rusty bike and told me to "Take it up to DeBettencourt's and ask for some oil on the chain." Being just 5 or so, I was a little reticent, but I rode it over, made the request, and "young Nelson" (who must have been about 20 then) helped me in such a kind way that I was completely put at ease. Decades later, he would often recall my grandmother's 1920 Ford "woody," a relic even by the time of her ownership in the late Forties. Just a few years back, I ran out of gas on Chesnut Ave. and humped it over to the station for a container of fuel. I found Nelson round the back chewing the fat with Richard DeBettencourt, and I asked them not to tell Susan, who often noted that I tended to flirt a little too closely with the "E" on my dash. When I got home, first thing she said was, "So, you ran out of gas." (In all fairness, I think it was Richard who actually spilled the beans.) Also cannot not fail to mention that seemingly ageless Nelson was a ringer for Humphrey Bogart, but was the "dad", rather than "tough guy" version. To Sandra, Mike, and all the rest of the family our deepest condolences on the loss of this wonderful man.

What a great person Nelson was. My prayers go out to his family.

Sorry to hear about Nelson,we had great times on the Oak Bluffs Fire dept (Ladder 1) I am glad to have met him and we had a lot of good chats. Another good Islander gone but never forgotten.

Nelson was a good friend of mine and my family for four generations. I miss him already.