Patsy (Merrill) Nelson

September 8,1925 - May 14, 2020

Patsy Ruth Nelson, 94, passed away May 14 in San Mateo, California from Covid-19. She will be remembered for her cheerfulness, sense of adventure, and optimism, an icon in a family who will keep her memory alive by continuing to pursue her values of exploring the world, following one’s dreams and being curious about other people’s pursuits.

Patsy was born in San Francisco on September 8, 1925, the first daughter of Susie and Frederick Leland Merrill. She grew up in San Mateo County, attended Sequoia High School, and graduated from UC Berkeley ‘47. She loved her time at Stern Hall at Cal and maintained lifelong friendships which began there. Pat married Clifford Roy Nelson in 1947 at Stanford Chapel and their adventures soon began.

After completing his degree in international relations at Stanford, Cliff joined the Foreign Service and the couple embarked on a journey together that involved working and living abroad. Their first post was in Greece followed by Austria, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Rhodesia, Vietnam, The Philippines, Morocco, Egypt and London.

Pat’s life overseas was sophisticated and full of adventures; skiing in the Atlas Mountains, transatlantic ocean voyages, golfing all over the world, but she was equally adept at creating the same dynamic environment when stationed in Washington, D.C., and living in Falls Church, VA through road trips to California, visits to National Parks and historic homes and weekends in Charnita, PA. While Cliff was on sabbatical at the University of Wyoming—Pat expanded her appreciation of the West and explored the family’s Mormon roots in Utah. No matter where Pat lived, she enjoyed reading, the theatre, bridge, antiquing, hosting myriad family holidays and cooking amazing meals that reflected the cultures of the many countries in which she lived.

After Cliff’s retirement from the Foreign Service in 1978, the couple lived in Egypt and London before returning to San Carlos. From 1983-1993 Patsy was the Director at the Kohl Mansion; a historic home in Burlingame. She reveled in a job that she created and made her own. The management skills she developed as the spouse of a diplomat and the mother of six children translated flawlessly into orchestrating large and small social events. Pat and Cliff, Anglophiles at heart, in 1985 purchased a flat in London and later a house in Incline Village, Nevada where she divided her time after Cliff passed away in 1992. Pat made a point of visiting her children all over the world as well as discovering new destinations in the US.

Pat spent the final phase of her life at Sterling Court where she continued to enjoy meeting new people, traveling, keeping up with world events and visits with her children and grandchildren. The family thanks Sterling Court for their care of Pat over the years. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frederick Leland and Susie Merril (Bennion), sisters Geraldine Foulger and Susan O’Donnell, husband, Clifford and infant daughter Katherine.

Pat is survived by her six children; Lee (Anne), Chris (Deborah), Geoffrey, Michael( Mona), Jennifer, Juliet Kelley (John) as well as 17 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

A celebration of her life will take place at Asilomar at a later date.